BBC & ZDF to co-pro ‘The Famous Five’ adaptation, TF1 strikes pre-sale deal

The BBC in the UK and ZDF in Germany are to co-produce a new series based on Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five novels, with French rights already pre-sold to TF1.

The 3 x 90-minute series will produced by The Pursuit Of Love indie Moonage Pictures and will be created for television and executive produced by Nicolas Winding Refn via Danish label byNWR, alongside Matthew Read for Moonage.

Filming is taking place across the southwest of the UK, with the show following five daring young explorers as they encounter “treacherous, action-packed adventures, remarkable mysteries, unparalleled danger, and astounding secrets in an unforgettable odyssey that evokes the power of camaraderie between the fearless young heroes.”

Nicolas Winding Refn, creator and executive producer, said: “All my life I’ve fought vigorously to remain a child with a lust for adventure. By reimagining The Famous Five, I am preserving that notion by bringing these iconic stories to life for a progressive new audience, instilling the undefinable allure and enchantment of childhood for current and future generations to come.”

Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education, added: “These stories are loved around the world and bringing families together is a key part of our strategy so we hope it introduces a new generation of viewers to these wonderful adventures.”

The series will be directed by Tim Kirkby, while BBC Studios, which has a minority stake in Moonage, will oversee international distribution and brokered the co-production and presales deals with both France’s TF1 and Germany’s ZDF.