Jennifer Lopez And Anthony Ramos To Set ‘Bob The Builder’ In Puerto Rico In New Animated Movie For Amazon MGM Studios

Amazon MGM Studios has secured the rights to produce Mattel’s animated feature Bob the Builder after a competitive bidding process involving Netflix, DreamWorks Animation, and others. Produced by Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions and ShadowMachine (known for Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro), the film stars Twisters actor Anthony Ramos as the voice of Bob. Ramos proposed setting the film in Puerto Rico to highlight Latino resilience, with Bob’s catchphrase translated to “Sí se puede” or “Yes we can.” Felipe Vargas is adapting the story, though it’s still undecided if the movie will premiere on Prime Video or in theaters.

In this new take, Bob (voiced by Ramos) travels to Puerto Rico for a major construction project that also explores themes central to the island’s culture. The film embraces the vibrant Caribbean spirit, celebrating the resilience and beauty of Latin American communities. Although Lopez has extensive experience in animation, she is not expected to voice a character in this production.

Alongside Lopez, producers include Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico of ShadowMachine, as well as Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina from Nuyorican. Key figures from Mattel, Kevin McKeon, Ivan Sanchez, and Arturo Thur De Koós, will oversee the project, with Natalie Haack Flores representing Nuyorican.

The original Bob the Builder series, which aired for 12 seasons, taught young audiences teamwork and problem-solving, with Bob’s famous line, “Can we fix it? Yes, we can!” Remaining true to its roots, the animated feature aims to inspire through Bob’s journey and cultural connection.

This project joins a growing list of Lopez’s collaborations with Amazon, including This Is Me... Now and Unstoppable, set to release in early 2025. Her recent Netflix film Atlas garnered over 60 million views, solidifying Lopez as a powerful force in the streaming landscape.