Thomas The Tank Engine: The Movie

Thomas The Tank Engine: The Movie is a live-action animated film directed by Marc Forster and produced by Mattel Films. The movie is based on the Railway Series books by The Rev. W. Awdry, the hit television series Thomas & Friends created by Britt Allcroft, the 2000 theatrical film Thomas and the Magic Railroad and the cancelled theatrical film The Adventures of Thomas. It is the second theatrical live-action animated film in the Thomas the Tank Engine franchise. The movie is also the very first Thomas crossover movie due to the appearance of many non-Thomas characters, by courtesy of collaborations by Mattel, various animation studios including Mercury Filmworks, Hasbro, WildBrain, and the creators of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Chip n' Dale: Rescue Rangers. 
The film follows a modern teenager, Blake Simone, who magically ends up on the Island of Sodor and meets his childhood idol, Thomas the Tank Engine. Along with human siblings Mark and Sarah Britten, Thomas takes Blake on a journey around Sodor to rediscover the joys and magic of the Island in order to cheer him up following his current dysfunctional life situation. However, when an evil diesel from the Mainland named Tempest 1000 and his dastardly controller P.T Boomer plot to invade and take over the North Western Railway with their army of evil diesels, Thomas, Blake, Mark and Sarah must band all the Sudrians together in order to save Sodor.
== Plot ==
The movie opens with a monologue about believing in magic, before introducing us to the fantasy realm of the Island of Sodor, an island between England and the Isle of Man. It’s a magical, harmonious and fantastical place where dreams come true, and is actually an island where worlds collide, and where various animated characters reside. The opening sequence introduces us to the main character of the movie, Thomas, and it follows him pulling his faithful coaches Annie and Clarabel on a journey along his branch line to Knapford Station. 
At Knapford Station, Thomas meets two of his human friends, the siblings Mark and Sarah Britten and they talk about various happenings and recent events on Sodor, and Thomas also mentions that Sir Topham Hatt is going to be on a business trip for a few days. At Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas catches up with the rest of the other engines, as they discuss who their temporary controller could possibly be. It turns out to be Miss Crowley, the kind and stern but fair stationmistress of Vicarstown Station, who introduces herself to the engines at the sheds.
We are introduced to a teenage boy in the real world, Blake Simone, who is ostracised and a social reject in his life, especially at school. His parents went missing when he was young, and his grandmother who looked after him had recently passed away. One day, at school, Blake messes up big time during an extremely important event, and gets in deep trouble. That same afternoon, his spirit extinguished, Blake is wandering around at an old railway station until he spots a mysterious minecart on a siding. He climbs into the minecart out of curiosity, and it suddenly plunges off the siding, onto the points, down a hill, and through a portal speeding on a wind-rollercoaster ride through other-worldly caves and waterfalls, until it ends up on the other side, on the Island of Sodor. 
The minecart emerges from the portal onto another abandoned siding and derails, throwing Blake out. He wanders around for a bit until he comes to another railway line. Thomas comes steaming along on his way to Ffarquhar with Annie and Clarabel until he spots Blake, and comes to a halt. 
Blake is shocked upon seeing Thomas, who was his childhood idol. After a few seconds of surprise, Blake is snapped back to life when Thomas kindly invites him to climb aboard. Blake accepts after being helped by the Guard into Annie, he notices a mix of passengers - some human, and some, animated characters - and most of the passengers don't look too happy at the reason Thomas stopped was because of an unexpected passenger. Upon seeing there's no space for him, Mark and Sarah wave to Blake and motion for him to sit with them.
During the journey to Knapford Station, Blake chats with the Britten siblings, getting to know them and telling them about how bad his life was at the moment. After learning he has nowhere to go, Mark and Sarah invite Blake to stay with them, which he accepts. At Knapford, the three bid goodbye to Thomas and head back to the condominium where the two siblings live. Upon entering their living space, Blake is introduced by Mark to Tessa Knightman, their easy-going and friendly caretaker and Susan Maple, a younger girl who, like the Britten siblings, was adopted by Tessa. Tessa agrees that Blake can stay for the time being, but after learning he has nowhere to go, Tessa ponders about adopting him.
Just as Thomas pulls into Knapford station, he sees Blake being bullied by two bullies, so he tells them to scram. Blake thanks Thomas and asks who they are, Thomas replies with the fact that the bullies pick on other kids because they think they are too smart or little and tells Blake not to worry about it.
Meanwhile, an evil black diesel from the Mainland named Tempest 1000, his dastardly controller P.T Boomer, and their large army of other wicked diesels, including D261, D199, Old Stuck-Up, and Arry and Bert, are plotting to take over Sodor, whilst planning from their base at the Smelters Yard at Barrow-In-Furness. They settle on a devious plan to ambush the North Western Railway, and smelt the steam engines, as well as the diesels for being traitors.
Sensing Blake is feeling down and needs some cheering up, Thomas takes him on magical adventures across Sodor along with Mark and Sarah where he is introduced to a cast of colourful characters throughout the movie. He introduces Blake to the other engines like Percy, James, Henry, Gordon, Edward, Toby, and Emily amongst the many others, and non-rail vehicles like Bertie the Bus, Terence the Tractor, Trevor the Traction Engine, Caroline the Car and Harold the Helicopter. 
Mark and Sarah also introduce Blake to their friends, from real humans including Rachel Walker and Kirsty Tate to animated characters like Hilda Folkerson and Strawberry Shortcake along with all their own friends. Throughout the movie when exploring Sodor with Thomas and the Britten siblings, Blake slowly rediscovers the magic of childhood and fun. However, Blake notices some suspicious spies nearly everywhere he goes on Sodor, but no one else does....
One day at Knapford, Thomas with Blake, Mark and Sarah in his cab return when they are suddenly caught by Miss Crowley. After confronting Thomas over bringing the three of them on adventures around the Island during work time, Miss Crowley admonishes the three teens for trespassing onto the North Western Railway, accusing them of neglecting proper railway safety. Blake tells Miss Crowley about the spies he saw around the railway, but she dismisses the claims as jokes and excuses, sending the three of them straight home, and she punishes Thomas by sending him to shunt trucks in the yard for a few days. 
A few nights later, Tempest 1000 and P.T Boomer lead their gang in sabotaging the North Western Railway by derailing the Sudrian engines and wreaking havoc, and it's revealed to Miss Crowley by the stationmaster at Knapford that there are spies around the railway that actually serve P.T Boomer at his base in Barrow-In-Furness on the Mainland, proving to her that Blake was right. Thomas, Blake, Mark, Sarah, and unexpectedly, Susan, band together and over the next few days, gather all their friends before leading them against Tempest, Boomer and their army. 
During the final battle, there is a relay race across Sodor with the Sudrian engines and their friends versus the Mainland diesels. The day is saved by Thomas and Blake, thus, Sodor has won the final battle. Amidst the rejoicing after the defeat of the wicked diesels, Miss Crowley forgives Thomas, Blake and the Britten siblings and praises Susan, who played a part in leading the battle despite her young age, and especially apologises to Blake for not believing him. Tessa appears and hugs her three adopted kids, sharing a tender moment with them, before announcing to Blake that after much consideration, she would be more than happy to adopt him before embracing him as well. 
While the engines and workmen are cleaning up, out of nowhere, Sir Topham Hatt suddenly returns from his business trip. At first he is confused and quite annoyed about what had gone on earlier, but after Thomas and Miss Crowley tell him everything, he lightens up and thanks Blake, Mark, Sarah and Susan for their help in assisting Thomas. Grateful to Blake for helping to save his railway, Sir Topham Hatt offers him a part-time job at Knapford Station, to which after encouragement from Thomas, the Britten siblings, Susan, Tessa, and even Miss Crowley, he accepts. 
In the aftermath, Boomer is arrested, Tempest is turned into a generator at Crovan's Gate Works, and the rest of the diesels are sent back to the Mainland in disgrace. Life on Sodor returns to normal, and the engines are back on track. The film ends with Thomas steaming home into the sunset accompanied by the ending monologue about the timelessness of magic and imagination, and that they truly do deserve to exist - just like our friend, Thomas the Tank Engine.
== Cast ==
=== Live-Action Actors: ===
Regan Garcia as Blake Harrison, a cynical but kind-hearted teenager who embarks on a life-changing experience on the Island of Sodor.
Noah Jupe as Mark Britten, a wisecracking, kind-hearted and humorous teenager with a heart of gold who is a good friend of Thomas and befriends Blake when he stumbles upon Sodor, and the older brother of Sarah.
Tilly-Raye Bayer as Sarah Britten, a calm, benevolent and sensible teenager who is also a good friend of Thomas and befriends Blake when he stumbles upon Sodor, and the younger sister of Mark, whose antics she is terribly irritated by.
Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Crowley, the stern but fair and kind stationmistress of Vicarstown Station who is temporary controller of the North Western Railway while Sir Topham Hatt is away on holiday.
Lashana Lynch as Tessa Knightman, the easy-going, warm and friendly adult caretaker of the Britten siblings and Susan.
Isla Gie as Susan Maple, a feisty, energetic and polite young girl who lives with Tessa and the Britten siblings and tends to be a little rebellious.
Christopher Lloyd as P.T Boomer, a diabolical controller of the Other Railway, and the owner of Tempest 1000. He plots the ambush on the NWR and is later on arrested for his assistance and planning of the sabotage and sending spies to Sodor. 
Alfred Molina as Sir Richard Topham Hatt IV, the current controller of the North Western Railway who only appears during the aftermath. 
Other roles are played by the ensemble and extras such as drivers, firemen, guards, workmen, passengers, spies and policemen amongst others.
=== Voice Actors: ===
==== The Engines and Rolling Stock: ====
Tom Holland as Thomas the Tank Engine
Jim Broadbent as Edward the Blue Engine
Hugh Laurie as Henry the Green Engine and D261 
Brian Blessed as Gordon the Big Engine
Stephen Graham as James the Red Engine, Iron Arry and Iron Bert
Roman Griffin Davis as Percy the Small Engine
Colm Feore as Toby the Tram Engine, Bear the Hymek Diesel and Old-Stuck Up
Neil Morrissey as Duck the Great Western Engine, Oliver the Great Western Engine and BoCo the Friendly Diesel
David Tennant as Donald and Douglas
Karen Gillian as Emily the Stirling Single Engine
Hannah Waddingham as Daisy the Diesel Railcar 
Helena Bonham Carter as Mavis the Quarry Diesel and Henrietta the Tramway Coach
Teresa Gallagher as Annie and Clarabel
Ray Porter as Tempest 1000
Keith Wickham as D199
Various Voice Actors as the Express Coaches, the Troublesome Trucks and the Evil Mainland Diesels
==== The Non-Rail Vehicles: ====
Keith Wickham as Bertie the Bus 
Dirk Benedict as Terence the Tractor
Nigel Pilkington as Trevor the Traction Engine
Rosemary Ashe as Caroline the Car
Graham Hoadly as Harold the Helicopter
=== Featured Non-Thomas Characters: ===
==== The Live-Action Characters: ====
Mia Talerico as Rachel Walker
Alisha Weir as Kirsty Tate
==== The Animated Characters: ====
Bella Ramsey as Hilda Folkerson
Ameerah Falzon as Frida Johnson
Oliver Nelson as David Greene
Rasmus Hardiker as Alfur
Emily Hart as Strawberry Shortcake 
McKenna Grace as Orange Blossom and Angel Cake
Rebecca Shoichet as Ginger Snap and Huckleberry Pie 
Tara Strong as Twilight Sparkle 
Rebecca Shoichet as Sunset Shimmer 
Andrea Libman as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie
Tabitha St. Germain as Rarity 
Ashleigh Ball as Rainbow Dash and Applejack 
Other animated characters that make minor speaking appearances are voiced by their respective voice actors.
=== TRIVIA: ===
•This Is The Second Theatrical Film of the Thomas Franchise To Be Produced, Since The 2000 Film “Thomas and the Magic Railroad”. 
•The Plot Is Halfway Similar To The 2012 Cancelled Movie “The Adventures of Thomas”. 
•This Is The Second Mattel Film To Be Released, Since The 2023 Movie “Barbie”. 
•This Marks PT. Boomer’s First Appearance In A Theatrical Film Since The Uncut Version Of “Thomas and The Magic Railroad”. 
• The Film Premiered On the Same Day That “Despicable Me 4” Released in Theatres July 2024. 
•This Is The First Film To Have Tom Holland as The Voice Of Thomas Since Eddie Glen Played The Role Of Him In The First Film Of The Thomas Franchise. 
Category:Thomas & Friends
Category:Thomas the Tank Engine
Category:Movies
Category:Movies Based on Shows
Category:Crossovers
Category:Crossover movies
Category:Crossover films
Category:Live-action films
Category:Live-Action/Animated