David Soren (‘Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie,’ ‘Under the Boardwalk’) will pen and direct the film based on the beloved Italian children’s book series about a journalist-turned-mystery-solving mouse.
Radar Pictures has secured the feature film rights for “Geronimo Stilton,” the best-selling children’s book series featuring the eponymous adventurous mouse, a newspaper editor on New Mouse Island. The character, created by Italian author Elisabetta Dami, has starred in over 300 books translated into over 50 languages, as well as graphic novels, an animated series, eight live stage productions, and video games.
Award-winning animation filmmaker David Soren (Turbo, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, the upcoming Under the Boardwalk) will adapt the book series and direct the film. Anthony Tringali, Michael Napoliello and Maria Frisk will produce for Radar. Radar's Ted Field (The Wheel of Time, Jumanji franchise, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Ferngully) will executive produce.
In the book series, Geronimo, longing to move beyond the cheesy puff pieces he’s usually assigned as a journalist, stumbles onto a conspiracy far bigger than anyone expected. He’s out of his league and with his eccentric family always up in his business, Geronimo’s problems seem insurmountable. But, working together, they might stand a chance as long as they can stay one step ahead of his foes in this explosive game of cat and mouse.
The film is a collaboration between Radar Pictures and Atlantyca Entertainment, the Milan-based trans-media entertainment company that manages international publishing rights as well as animation and licensing rights worldwide for the “Geronimo Stilton” book series, including the three seasons of the Geronimo Stilton animated television series.
“I am excited to be working with Radar Pictures to bring this incredibly popular book series to life,” stated Soren. “Geronimo Stilton is beloved around the world and it’s high time for his first hilarious, feature film adventure!"
Atlantyca President Pietro Marietti said, “Here at Atlantyca, we are honored to see our beloved Geronimo Stilton is heading to Hollywood! For 20 years, working with the Atlantyca team we proudly created a global brand with extraordinary success achieved through books, the animated series, our musical and exhibitions, resulting in Geronimo Stilton becoming a worldwide transmedia phenomenon. Our partnership with Radar Pictures is truly a next step for this famed mouse journalist. We are so excited to see the potential this brings to sharing his story with new audiences on the big screen."
“The Geronimo Stilton books are so wonderfully witty, and you immediately fall in love with the characters,” said Tringali. “The movie will bring audiences of all ages on an unforgettable and hilarious journey full of action, heart, and mousy misadventures.”
Field said, “Radar is excited to be working with Atlantyca to bring this character to the big screen for his many millions of fans and readers around the globe.”
Radar Pictures is repped by Buchwald. Soren is repped by Adam Levine and Sara Nestor at Verve Talent and Literary Agency.
Source: Radar Pictures
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
