Big Bird heading for the big screen

Sesame Street has found out how to get into the cinema after 20th Century Fox bought the movie rights to the long-running hit children's TV show.

Following the success of The Muppets movie, the studio has commissioned Sesame Street writer Joey Mazzorino to write a film script featuring the Jim Henson puppet stars, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Elmo and mathematics-loving vampire Count von Count are among the stars of the multi award-winning educational kids show, which has been running for 43 years.

Night At The Museum director Shawn Levy is among the producers on board.

Sesame Street has previously spawned two movie spin-offs - Follow That Bird in 1985 starring John Candy, Chevy Chase and Dave Thomas, and 1999's The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.