A movie based on Pippi Longstocking is in early development from the team behind the two “Paddington” movies Studiocanal and Heyday Films, the production companies announced on Wednesday.
Studiocanal and Heyday are working with the Astrid Lindgren Company to develop a film based on the children’s books written by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren that were first published between 1945 and 1948. Jeffrey Clifford and Rosie Alison will also produce for Heyday.
The Pippi Longstocking character originates from bedside stories told by Lindgren to her daughter Karin about a girl with boundless energy, red hair, freckles, a free spirit and superhuman strength. The books preach girl power, confidence, kindness and generosity and have been translated into 77 languages with over 65 million copies sold worldwide.
“In David Heyman, with his impressive track record of bringing great literary works to the screen, together with Studiocanal we are confident that we have found a team that can understand and appreciate the full value of Pippi Longstocking and develop films that capture both the playfulness and the gravity in my grandmother’s works. We are therefore very excited and pleased to announce this collaboration. I’m especially thrilled to announce this now, when we’re in the midst of planning Pippi Longstocking’s upcoming 75th Anniversary in 2020 together with a global campaign in support of Save the Children’s important work for Children on the Move,” Nils Nyman, Lindgren’s grandchild and CEO of Astrid Lingren Film, said in a statement.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Thomas Gustafsson, Olle Nyman and their team at the Astrid Lindgren Company and our partners at Studiocanal on this film adaptation of the brilliant and timeless Pippi Longstocking. Pippi has endured and inspired families everywhere through her life force, strength of character and her irrepressible joie de vivre. Astrid Lindgren’s books have been translated around the globe for many years – a testament to her vision which we are determined to honour with a new film,” Heyman said.
“All of us at Studiocanal are admirers and fans of Pippi Longstocking. We greatly appreciate the confidence the family of Astrid Lindgren has shown in us, letting us be their partner in bringing the timeless, wonderful and joyful creation of hers to the big screen. It’s a real pleasure to work again with David Heyman and the team at Heyday, bringing Pippi to audiences around the world. Pippi will play to the imaginations of adults and children alike and we are so delighted to bring her beautifully enduring stories to life,” Studiocanal CEO Didier Lupfer and EVP international production and acquisitions Ron Halpern said as well.
Studiocanal and Heyday have also collaborated on Marc Munden’s “The Secret Garden,” which is currently in post-production, and the “Paddington” animated television series currently shooting in London.