Sony won rights in July to the project, based on a pitch by Eric Siegel and Anthony Leondis about the round-headed figures that have become ubiquitous in social media.
The duo are co-writing the script with Leondis directing. The logline is under wraps, reported Variety only.
Michelle Raimo Kouyate is producing. She stepped down in July after five years as production president of Sony Pictures Animation and signed a first-look deal.
Leondis directed the short "Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters" and the DreamWorks Animation feature "B O O: Bureau Of Otherworldly Operations".