EXCLUSIVE: CBC/Radio-Canada has boarded the upcoming Spellbound, a live-action tween drama from the workforce behind Find Me in Paris.
The Canadian nationwide community has acquired native rights to the present from Federation Kids & Family and ZDF Studios, that are collectively distributing worldwide.
Hulu, Germany’s ZDF and France Télévisions are already hooked up as co-production companions, with Federation-owned Cottonwood Media producing in affiliation with Opéra National de Paris and ZDF Studios. The identical companions, bar France Télévisions, teamed for sci-fi youngsters dramedy Find Me in Paris between 2018 and 2020.
Filming on the 26-part Spellbound, which has a funds of €15.3M ($16.6M), has now wrapped forward of a debut later this 12 months. CBC’s English-language streamer CBC Gem will launch it later this 12 months, earlier than French-language service ICI TOU.TV runs it through the 2023/24 broadcast season.
The present follows Cece Parker Jones (Hailey Romain), a vivacious teenager who relocates to Paris from a small city within the U.S. to review on the Paris Opera Ballet School. But issues flip the other way up when she discovers a e-book of household spells within the again room of her Aunt Ginger’s apothecary and unwittingly summons her nemesis.
Cast additionally consists of Margherita Barbieri, Abigail O’Regan, Etienne Moana, Sam Darius, Zac Gabriel Werb, Raven Dauda (The Umbrella Academy, Star Trek: Discovery), Malou Beauvoir (Perception), Rik Young (Beowolf, Find Me in Paris), Cameron James-King (Tuesday, His Dark Materials), Gomolémo Tsagaé, Imogen Mackie Walker and Charles Baker.
The present comes from Jill Girling and Lori Mather, who additionally created Find Me in Paris. Executive producer Renaud Mathieu and one of many administrators, Robert Burke, additionally labored on the earlier present. Alexander Jacob (Theodora, Hollyoaks) is collection lead director, with Anne Bradley one other director. Cottonwood’s Zoé Carrera Allaix, Cécile Lauritano and David Michel.
“The team at CBC Kids is excited to see Spellbound come to life,” mentioned Marie McCann, Senior Director, Children’s Content, CBC. “The dancers are electric against the stunning mise en scène and we think kids will really enjoy this fun and fresh take on magic.”
Simon Dupuis, Senior Director, Acquisitions & Speciality Channels, Radio-Canada, added: “Cottonwood Media has established an enviable reputation for producing the massive international teen drama hit Find Me in Paris. We believe that kids will be attracted to Spellbound as much as were reading the pitch. It has all the ingredients to become another success.”
“We are delighted to have closed this deal with CBC/Radio-Canada as we ramp up international sales over the coming months,” mentioned Monica Levy, Co-Chief of Distribution, Federation Kids & Family. “In respect of this specific deal, it’s also an added bonus that our lead actress Hailey Romain is Canadian herself.”
The co-founders of Cottonwood — David Michel, Cécile Lauritano and Zoé Carrera Allaix — added: “We are working with some amazing broadcast partners on this big budget series, and we always look out for that ‘special’ something when it comes to seeking out new international talent for our productions in a bid to find the right individuals to bring our characters to life whilst reciprocally nurturing their skills – and we are confident some of these amazing new actors will soon have viewers under their spell.”
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