Charlie Brown's longtime pen pal is finally revealed in new Apple TV
'Peanuts' movie
[June 25, 2026]
By MARK KENNEDY
NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie Brown began writing to a pen pal not long after
the comic strip “Peanuts” debuted in newspapers back in 1950. No one has
gotten a look at whoever was on the other end of his letters — until
now.
Her name is Mia, and she's a young girl from London of South Asian
descent who uses a wheelchair. She glides into the spotlight in the
animated movie “Snoopy Unleashed,” coming to Apple TV in 2027, helping
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang explore what being a pal is really
all about.
“The story is really about what real friendship is about, and I think
that continues to be something that’s relevant not only to kids, but
adults,” says producer Bonnie Arnold.
“True friends love you for who you are. And that’s something that we not
only have to learn as kids, but we have to remind ourselves as we become
teenagers and young adults and adults and even in older age,” she added.
What's the movie about?
In the 80-minute movie, Mia makes a surprise visit to a suddenly
flustered Charlie Brown, who has to live up to the curated version of
himself that he has presented in his letters. His relationship with
Snoopy is then strained, and the dog bolts for a nearby city. Naturally,
Charlie Brown and the gang, plus Mia, give chase.
With Mia, the creators wanted to birth someone as different from Charlie
Brown as possible — a girl, not from a suburb or a rural town, who moves
through the world differently, without a pet, and someone with
confidence.
“Charlie Brown is probably one of the most insecure human beings that we
know. That’s what makes him charming. It’s how we see ourselves in him.
So we felt that we wanted Mia to be more comfortable with who she is,”
says director Steve Martino, adding: “A big part of her role in the
movie is to be a mirror to Charlie Brown, to journey with him and to
reflect some things that he couldn’t see himself.”
An urban landscape
They landed on London as Mia's home since that elevated the stakes.
“If this pen pal was going to come to visit, it would be a much stronger
story if she came from much further away,” says Martino. “He has one
shot to make a good impression.” (Plus, it gave Lucy the chance to
believe somehow that Mia might be a royal ).
In the city, Mia is more comfortable than Charlie Brown and the gang,
who are fish out of water, like encountering their first revolving door
with amazement. The jazz score grows more frenzied as the children
navigate honking traffic and the urban energy.
Snoopy's trip to the city also introduces another new character: a
nameless, gold-haired stray mutt who becomes his opposites-attract pal,
like Mia and Charlie Brown.
“Snoopy definitely is more of a human-type character. He walks on twos
and not fours,” says Arnold. The stray, on the other hand, “walks on
fours, he barks, he pants, he’s more doglike, but he befriends Snoopy.
Even though his actions are a bit puppylike, he’s a little bit more
seasoned in the ways of being on the road.”
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This image released by Apple TV shows “Peanuts” characters,
including Snoopy, center, in a scene from the animated movie “Snoopy
Unleashed” coming to Apple TV in 2027. (Apple TV via AP)
 Issues of authenticity and
presentation
The script was written by Craig Schulz — “Peanuts” creator Charles
M. Schulz's son — and his own son, Bryan Schulz, along with
Cornelius Uliano and Karey Kirkpatrick. To accurately portray life
in a wheelchair, the creators consulted several groups, including
Disability Belongs.
Lara Mehmet, a wheelchair user who lives just outside London, was
picked to voice Mia after a long audition process and helped the
script sound more authentic.
While viewers today are more familiar with texts, instant messages
and social media posts, the moviemakers hope they'll see the same
issues of authenticity and presentation in a story sparked by snail
mail letters.
“On social media, we like to curate and project a life that is the
very best of who we are. And I thought that is such rich story
material to dig into,” says Martino. “We communicate differently
today, but feelings that are universal.”
“Peanuts” ran in more than 2,600 newspapers, reaching millions of
readers in 75 countries before ending in 2000. Charlie Brown and
Snoopy have since thrived in the digital age with fresh specials and
series.
In addition to “Snoopy Unleashed,” Apple TV has season two of “Camp
Snoopy” on tap for June, a new special “Snoopy Presents: There’s No
Place Like Home, Snoopy” premiering at the end of July, and the
“Peanuts” classics “This Is America, Charlie Brown” and “The Charlie
Brown and Snoopy Show” will be available on the platform in early
July.
The moviemakers credit Schulz for leaving a legacy of very
believable kids and an ability to tap into the human experience,
with all its vulnerabilities.
“What Charles Schulz did in the comic strips so well is kind of
touch on things that affect us all at all ages, right? Some
universal truths about relationships,” says Arnold.
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