Simon Cowell Producing Betty Boop Movie

Classic animated character Betty Boop is making her way to the big-screen courtesy of an unlikely source: X Factor producer Simon Cowell.

The former American Idol judge is teaming with the animation company behind The Lego Movie to bring the iconic flapper girl to cinemas for her first feature-length film. 

Debuting in 1930 and quickly becoming a global sensation, Betty Boop was the first risqué figure in a new age of cartoons, with her flirtatious moves and famous line, "Boop-oop-a-doop." 

She appeared in dozens of shorts and advertisements during the past 80 years, most recently for Lancôme cosmetics. 

Betty Boop was last seen in cinemas in the 1988 live-action/animated hybrid 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, where she cameoed as a nightclub cigarette girl who fell on hard times during the transition from black-and-white cartoons to colour. In a statement reported by Variety, Cowell explained his dedication to the character. 

“Betty is an icon, and one of the biggest stars in the world – I’m thrilled to be working with her,” Cowell said. “Betty, I’ve worked with some serious divas but I think you could be the biggest of them all!” 

There is no word yet on a release date.