Simon Farnaby, the writer of this month’s Paddington 2, as well as the brilliant TV series Yonderland and the hilarious comedy Mindhorn, is to pen an adaptation of Enid Blyton’s classic novel Magic Faraway Tree. The project is set up over at STUDIOCANAL, the folks that brought us the Paddington movies, and also Neal Street Productions. More on the Magic Faraway Tree film below.
Magic Faraway Tree In Development At STUDIOCANAL With Simon Farnaby Writing
The Magic Faraway Tree film is very much in the early stages of development at the moment but is set to roll into production representative with the same studio’s ambition in the family franchise market following the success of Paddington 2, currently the number 1 family film at the UK box office.
Magic Faraway Tree will be the first-ever feature film based on Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree series.
Each story takes place in the enchanted wood in which The Magic Faraway Tree grows – tall enough to reach the clouds and large enough to contain small houses. At the top of the tree is an ever-rotating series of fantastic worlds, everything from the Land of Birthdays to the Land of Topsy-Turvy. Discovered by our child heroes, the tree and wood provide the background to their adventures.
Related: Paddington 2 review
Written between 1939 and 1951, The Magic Faraway Tree series is made up of four novels: THE ENCHANTED WOOD, THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE, THE FOLK OF THE FARAWAY TREE and UP THE FARAWAY TREE. All have been optioned by Neal Street Productions, from Hachette Children’s Group, brand owners of Enid Blyton Entertainment, for development with STUDIOCANAL.
Some more info on the source material:
The Magic Faraway Tree is the second story in the Faraway Tree series by the world’s best-loved children’s author, Enid Blyton.
When Joe, Beth, and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, it proves to be the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? Come on an amazing adventure – there’ll be adventures waiting whatever happens.
Enid Blyton’s funny, magical adventure stories have become true classics, loved by millions and still selling thousands of copies every year. She is arguably the most famous children’s author of all time, thanks to series such as The Wishing-Chair, The Faraway Tree, The Mysteries, The Famous Five and The Secret Seven.
Writer Simon Farnaby comments: “The Magic Faraway Tree books are a firework display of the imagination. The pages are lit up with wonderful characters, humour, peril and adventure. Most homes have a well worn jam fingerprinted volume somewhere on their shelves. I’m very much looking forward to bringing the likes of the Old Saucepan Man and Dame Washalot to the big screen for fans both old and new.”
Danny Perkins CEO STUDIOCANAL UK said: “Enid Blyton’s work is timeless. Like many, I have loved her writing since childhood and it’s incredible to develop such an expansive project with first class partners Neal Street Productions and Simon Farnaby. Not unlike the work of Michael Bond CBE, we very much look forward to bringing enduring family classics to audiences worldwide.”
More on the Magic Faraway Tree film as it comes our way.
