1 hour ago
EXCLUSIVE: UK TV characteristic Dermot O’Leary’s book bid Toto nan Ninja Cat is being adapted into an animated bid by Studiocanal and Superprod. Check retired first look image below.
O’Leary, a erstwhile X Factor host, will spot his book turned into a 52-episode action-comedy show by Emmy-winning caput writers Nick Ostler and Mark Huckerby (Danger Mouse).
The novels travel nan titular character, who is nan newest personnel of a concealed convention of world ninja cats. Partially sighted from birth, she has turned her ocular impairment into a ninja superpower, utilizing heightened senses to navigate nan metropolis and outsmart villains. O’Leary has antecedently said he based nan characteristic connected his existent pet, a unsighted moggy he adopted successful Italy.
Based connected Nick East’s illustrations, nan six books person been published complete nan past decade and nan first was turned into a shape play that premiered earlier this year. A seventh book, Toto nan Ninja Cat and nan Football Fiasco, is coming retired later this year. They person been translated into 19 languages and sold much than half a cardinal English-language copies.
O’Leary is simply a British TV stalwart who antecedently hosted The X Factor and presently fronts ITV’s This Morning with Alison Hammond and nan celebrated BBC Radio 2 Saturday meal show.
Studiocanal is making nan bid from its nascent Studiocanal Stories adaptations label, which is overseen by Sarah Reese Geffroy and has adaptations of Beth O’Leary’s Swept Away and Freida McFadden’s The Divorce upcoming. Hachette, which on pinch Studiocanal is part-owned by the Bolloré Group, publishes O’Leary’s books. Last month, Hachette Livre and Studiocanal announced a strategical book-to-screen adaptation JV called On Screen, though nan O’Leary adjustment pre-dates this JV. Hachette Children’s Group manages TV and movie authorities for nan series.
O’Leary said: “I americium thrilled that Toto is astir to go nan prima of her ain tv series. I americium often asked what inspired maine to constitute my children’s books and I cannot deliberation of a amended inspiration than Toto herself; pinch her benignant quality and nan simply awesome thought that Toto is simply a loving mild-mannered kitten by time and a Ninja by night. I americium inspired by nan activity that Studiocanal and Superprod person been processing successful nan family abstraction and I tin only statesman to ideate Toto’s continued travel pinch their belief and infectious enthusiasm for her potential.”
Studiocanal Worldwide TV MD M-K Kennedy said she is “over-the-moon” to beryllium welcoming Toto to a Studiocanal family alongside iconic characters for illustration Paddington and Miffy. “The vibrancy, comedy and values successful Dermot O’Leary’s beautifully crafted books is so utterly compelling, pinch characters that burst from nan page pinch unsocial voices and laugh-out-loud antics,” she added. “Though Toto whitethorn not person 20/20 vision, she’s a bold, aspirational and inspirational reminder to kids of each ages that thing should clasp america back.”
O’Leary is EPing nan task pinch Dee Koppang O’Leary, a head connected Rivals. Studiocanal Kids & Family is handling worldwide sales. O’Leary is repped by Jadeen Singh astatine John Noel Management. East is repped by Heather Richards astatine Tallbean. Ostler and Huckerby are repped by Cathy King and Alex Bloch astatine 42.
