Link: ‘Popularity Papers’ Young Adult Book Series Scores TV Adaptation From Aircraft Pictures, WexWorks Media
Scrapbook-style book series “The Popularity Papers” is getting the TV treatment. Amy Ignatow’s award-winning middle-grade novels will be adapted for the screen by Corus Media-backed Aircraft Pictures, the Oscar-nominated producers behind “The Breadwinner,” and Emmy-nominated production company WexWorks Media. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Aircraft Pictures (2018 Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award-nominated producers of the animated feature film “The Breadwinnerâ€) in association with American Greetings Entertainment (creators and producers of “Buddy Thunderstruck†– the 2018 Emmy nominated stop-motion series) today announced they will be partnering to produce an all-new and contemporary scripted take on the venerable Holly Hobbie™ brand as a live-action kids series. “Holly Hobbie†will make its US debut in Fall 2018 exclusively on Hulu, followed by its debut in Canada on Family Channel.
In a first-of-its-kind co-commissioning structure, the series has also been pre-sold to leading US children’s cable outlet, Universal Kids, who will have the linear rights to the series after it streams on Hulu.
First introduced by American Greetings in 1967, Holly Hobbie is recognized worldwide as the bonneted “Blue Girl†in paintings and illustration, accumulating more than 50 years of fans and $1B in worldwide licensed product sales. This new 10 episode single-camera series, produced by showrunner Sarah Glinski (“Degrassi: Next Classâ€, “Degrassi: The Next Generationâ€), updates Holly as an aspirational, modern-day 13-year-old singer/songwriter. A dreamer and doer, Holly plans on saving the world someday but is happy to start in her own small town.
Beginning principal photography in May 2018, the new series is produced with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund. “Holly Hobbie†Producers are Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures (“The Breadwinnerâ€, “Bruno & Boots: This Can’t Be Happening At Macdonald Hallâ€) with Karen Vermeulen, Ryan Wiesbrock and Sean Gorman of American Greetings Entertainment (“Tinpoâ€, “Buddy Thunderstruck†and “Care Bearsâ€) and Matthew Wexler (“D.N.Aceâ€, “Paw Patrolâ€) of Wexworks Media serving as Executive Producers alongside Sarah Glinski. In addition to Glinski, the writing team includes Courtney Jane Walker (“Degrassi: The Next Classâ€, “Living in Your Carâ€) and Cole Bastedo (“The Next Stepâ€, “Mr. Youngâ€).
From a media release:
In advance of MIPTV, leading content company Shaftesbury, in partnership with WexWorks Media, have acquired the rights to The Weather Girl Knows, a popular Japanese format by TV Asahi.
The Weather Girl Knows is a quirky procedural with weather being the key to unlocking puzzling crimes, with clues as unpredictable as next week’s forecast. Partnering an oddball weather girl (who’s also a brilliant climatologist) with a rookie detective, each week they investigate mysteries of murder and ball lightning, hurricanes and hijacking. These strange bedfellows might just make the perfect pair to solve the most tempestuous crimes.
“The Weather Girl Knows is a procedural crime drama, with real-world science at its core. The format has been a huge success in Japan and we are thrilled to bring these characters to new audiences,†said Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury.
“I knew TV Asahi had created something special the minute I saw The Weather Girl Knows. I’m sure it will resonate with audiences around the globe and I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Christina and her team,†said Matthew Wexler, CEO and Executive Producer, WexWorks Media.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Shaftesbury and WexWorks Media on bringing The Weather Girl Knows to the worldwide audience. The script is unique yet universal and is bound to capture the hearts and imaginations of the global audience,†said Yuka Kakui, Head of Format Development and Sales, TV Asahi.
