Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to Morgan Neville’s new documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Focus chairman Peter Kujawski announced Monday.
The new film, about the life and work of beloved kids TV host Mister Fred Rogers, set for release on June 8, 2018.
It will be a Focus Features presentation of a Tremolo Production, in association with Impact Partners and Independent Lens/PBS. It is produced by Neville, Caryn Capotosto and Nicholas Ma.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” looks at America’s favorite neighbor and television personality, Mister Fred Rogers, and looks at the creative genius who inspired generations of children with his educational series, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
“Morgan once again avoids making a traditional biodoc and instead takes us behind the curtain to see how Fred Rogers navigated the cultural and social issues of the second half of the twentieth century with his own brand of forward-thinking, compassionate wisdom far beyond his time,” commented Kujawski. “Mister Rogers makes us all want to be better people, and we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of telling his story today.”
“The Fred Rogers I discovered making this film is at once comfortably familiar and completely surprising. I believe Mister Rogers is the kind of voice we need to hear right now,” Neville added. “I am thrilled to work with Focus Features on taking this film out into the world, along with my collaborators at Impact Partners and Independent Lens.”
The deal was negotiated by Endeavor Content and Judith Karfiol on behalf of the filmmakers.