The CGI animated sequel to “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” the hit adventure film based on the Dark Horse comics which sold around the world, has lured buyers ahead of the European Film Market.
Titled “Chickenhare and the Very Very (Very) Old Groundhog,” the movie is budgeted at $23 million (a large budget by European production standards) and brings back the creative team behind the first film. Benjamin Mousquet is directing, while Dave Collard wrote the screenplay, based on “Chickenhare,” the graphic novels penned and illustrated by Chris Grine and published by Dark Horse comics.
The film, which is expected to be delivered at the end of the year, is produced by nWave Pictures et Octopolis, in association with Sony Pictures International Releasing. NWave and Octopolis are handling international sales and will introduce the project to buyers at the European Film Market with a promo reel. Producers are Matthieu Zeller and Matthieu Gondinet.
Titled “Chickenhare and the Very Very (Very) Old Groundhog,” the movie is budgeted at $23 million (a large budget by European production standards) and brings back the creative team behind the first film. Benjamin Mousquet is directing, while Dave Collard wrote the screenplay, based on “Chickenhare,” the graphic novels penned and illustrated by Chris Grine and published by Dark Horse comics.
The film, which is expected to be delivered at the end of the year, is produced by nWave Pictures et Octopolis, in association with Sony Pictures International Releasing. NWave and Octopolis are handling international sales and will introduce the project to buyers at the European Film Market with a promo reel. Producers are Matthieu Zeller and Matthieu Gondinet.
- 2/12/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Signature Picks Up Animated Feature ‘The Inseparables’ From ‘Toy Story’ Writers for U.K. (Exclusive)
Signature Entertainment has said that it has acquired the U.K. and Irish rights to animated family adventure The Inseparables, written by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow (Toy Story), from nWave Studios. A major theatrical release is planned for Dec. 8.
The feature is produced by Matthieu Zeller (The Queen’s Corgi, Bigfoot Family, Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness) and Matthieu Gondinet (Bigfoot Family, Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness) and directed by Jérémie Degruson (The House of Magic, Son of Bigfoot, Bigfoot Family). It was written and based on an original story by Cohen and Sokolow and adapted into a screenplay by Cal Brunker (Paw Patrol: The Movie) and Bob Barlen (Arctic Dogs).
The adventure follows a puppet named Don, tired of always playing the fool, who teams up with rapping teddy bear DJ Doggy Dog to save his friends in a wondrous adventure across Central Park.
The deal was...
The feature is produced by Matthieu Zeller (The Queen’s Corgi, Bigfoot Family, Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness) and Matthieu Gondinet (Bigfoot Family, Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness) and directed by Jérémie Degruson (The House of Magic, Son of Bigfoot, Bigfoot Family). It was written and based on an original story by Cohen and Sokolow and adapted into a screenplay by Cal Brunker (Paw Patrol: The Movie) and Bob Barlen (Arctic Dogs).
The adventure follows a puppet named Don, tired of always playing the fool, who teams up with rapping teddy bear DJ Doggy Dog to save his friends in a wondrous adventure across Central Park.
The deal was...
- 10/6/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“The Inseparables,” Jérémie Degruson’s ambitious animated feature competing this week at Annecy festival, has been sold to a raft of territories by Octopolis and nWave.
Based on an original idea by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, the Oscar-nominated writers of “Toy Story,” “The Inseparables” follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and, DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal toy in need of a friend. Don and DJ Doggy Dog cross paths in Central Park and pair up against all odds for an epic adventure of friendship in New York City. The film was penned by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker.
Budgeted at $25 million, “The Inseparables” was produced by nWave Studios in Belgium, Octopolis in France and A Contracorriente Films in Spain.
New sales deals have been closed for France (Kmbo), South Korea (First Run), Greece (Odeon), Poland (M2 Films), Turkey (filmarti), Israel (Forum...
Based on an original idea by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, the Oscar-nominated writers of “Toy Story,” “The Inseparables” follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and, DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal toy in need of a friend. Don and DJ Doggy Dog cross paths in Central Park and pair up against all odds for an epic adventure of friendship in New York City. The film was penned by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker.
Budgeted at $25 million, “The Inseparables” was produced by nWave Studios in Belgium, Octopolis in France and A Contracorriente Films in Spain.
New sales deals have been closed for France (Kmbo), South Korea (First Run), Greece (Odeon), Poland (M2 Films), Turkey (filmarti), Israel (Forum...
- 6/13/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Leading European animation outfit nWave Studios has closed a multi-year output deal with prominent Scandinavian distributor Scanbox for Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland.
The agreement will cover the Nordic distribution of three upcoming features to be produced by nWave Studios, kicking off with “The Inseparables,” which is based on an original idea by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, the Oscar-nominated writers of “Toy Story”.
“We’re proud to bring our collaborations with trustworthy European distributors one step further through this multi-year agreement with our Scandinavian partner Scanbox,” said nWave Studios’ CEO Matthieu Zeller, who also unveiled a first look image of “The Inseparables.”
Zeller said the pact “expands nWave’s footprint in strategic markets with a real appetite for quality animation and an expertise in reaching families through innovative digital campaigns.”
The 25 million buddy feature follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and DJ Doggy Dog,...
The agreement will cover the Nordic distribution of three upcoming features to be produced by nWave Studios, kicking off with “The Inseparables,” which is based on an original idea by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, the Oscar-nominated writers of “Toy Story”.
“We’re proud to bring our collaborations with trustworthy European distributors one step further through this multi-year agreement with our Scandinavian partner Scanbox,” said nWave Studios’ CEO Matthieu Zeller, who also unveiled a first look image of “The Inseparables.”
Zeller said the pact “expands nWave’s footprint in strategic markets with a real appetite for quality animation and an expertise in reaching families through innovative digital campaigns.”
The 25 million buddy feature follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and DJ Doggy Dog,...
- 10/25/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Stassen’s nWave Studios is set to produce “The Inseparables,” a 25 million animated feature based on an original idea by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, the Oscar-nominated writers of “Toy Story.”
The feature is being jointly produced by nWave Studios in Belgium, Octopolis in France and A Contracorriente Films in Spain.
Cohen and Sokolow penned the feature with Cal Brunker, Bob Barlen, Matthieu Zeller and Jérémie Degruson.
Degruson, who previously directed some of nWave Studios’ biggest animated hits “The House of Magic,” “Bigfoot Junior” and Bigfoot Family,” is on board to helm “The Inseparables.”
The animated buddy movie follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and, DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal toy in need of a friend, as they cross paths in Central Park and pair up against all odds for an epic adventure of friendship in New York City.
The movie...
The feature is being jointly produced by nWave Studios in Belgium, Octopolis in France and A Contracorriente Films in Spain.
Cohen and Sokolow penned the feature with Cal Brunker, Bob Barlen, Matthieu Zeller and Jérémie Degruson.
Degruson, who previously directed some of nWave Studios’ biggest animated hits “The House of Magic,” “Bigfoot Junior” and Bigfoot Family,” is on board to helm “The Inseparables.”
The animated buddy movie follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and, DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal toy in need of a friend, as they cross paths in Central Park and pair up against all odds for an epic adventure of friendship in New York City.
The movie...
- 5/12/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Peru-set biopic tells the story of Marie Reiche who fought for the preservation of Peru’s mysterious Nazca lines.
Paula Beer and Guillaume Gallienne will co-star in the upcoming English-language biopic Lady Nazca about German mathematician Maria Reiche who pioneered research into Peru’s mysterious Nazca lines in the 1940s, and then fought for their preservation throughout her life.
Paris-based sales company Pulsar Content has secured world sales on the drama and will introduce the project to the market at the European Film Market (March 1-5) next week.
Principal photography will begin in summer 2021 in Peru.
Germany’s Beer, who...
Paula Beer and Guillaume Gallienne will co-star in the upcoming English-language biopic Lady Nazca about German mathematician Maria Reiche who pioneered research into Peru’s mysterious Nazca lines in the 1940s, and then fought for their preservation throughout her life.
Paris-based sales company Pulsar Content has secured world sales on the drama and will introduce the project to the market at the European Film Market (March 1-5) next week.
Principal photography will begin in summer 2021 in Peru.
Germany’s Beer, who...
- 2/25/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The Brussels-based company’s ‘Bigfoot Family’ recently sold to Netflix.
An animated feature based on the story of Don Quixote is in production at Brussels-based animation studio nWave Pictures, scripted by two of the screenwriters behind Toy Story.
Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen have written the feature, which will be directed by Jérémie Degruson and has a budget between €15m ($18m) and €20m ($24m).
The original screenplay first surfaced more than 10 years ago, titled Q, but nWave founder and filmmaker Ben Stassen told Screendaily that it will be renamed.
“It’s about a puppet theatre in New York City where...
An animated feature based on the story of Don Quixote is in production at Brussels-based animation studio nWave Pictures, scripted by two of the screenwriters behind Toy Story.
Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen have written the feature, which will be directed by Jérémie Degruson and has a budget between €15m ($18m) and €20m ($24m).
The original screenplay first surfaced more than 10 years ago, titled Q, but nWave founder and filmmaker Ben Stassen told Screendaily that it will be renamed.
“It’s about a puppet theatre in New York City where...
- 2/12/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Sony Pictures International Productions (Spip) is joining forces with Ben Stassen, a veteran Belgian animation director and producer, and his producing partner Matthieu Zeller on “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” an ambitious 3D-animated adventure film based on the Dark Horse comics.
Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet will direct “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” whose screenplay was written by Dave Collard, based on “Chickenhare,” the graphic novels penned and illustrated by Chris Grine and published by Dark Horse comics.
“Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness” is being produced by Caroline van Iseghem and Stassen at nWave Pictures, and Matthieu Zeller at Octopolis, who are rolling off the success of “Bigfoot Family,” one of France’s highest grossing films at home and abroad — across 51 territories — in 2020.
The film is co-produced by Spip. Sony Pictures Entertainment France will distribute the film and have home entertainment and digital rights in France.
The family...
Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet will direct “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” whose screenplay was written by Dave Collard, based on “Chickenhare,” the graphic novels penned and illustrated by Chris Grine and published by Dark Horse comics.
“Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness” is being produced by Caroline van Iseghem and Stassen at nWave Pictures, and Matthieu Zeller at Octopolis, who are rolling off the success of “Bigfoot Family,” one of France’s highest grossing films at home and abroad — across 51 territories — in 2020.
The film is co-produced by Spip. Sony Pictures Entertainment France will distribute the film and have home entertainment and digital rights in France.
The family...
- 2/8/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
“The Queen’s Corgi,” the 3D animated adventure tale directed by Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot, had a banner opening in France on Wednesday, scoring the country’s best first-day haul for an independent European animated film.
Written by Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith, the pair behind “Gnomeo and Juliet,” “The Queen’s Corgi” grossed approximately €304,000 euros from 44,701 tickets on Wednesday in France. It’s this year’s fifth-highest opening day for a non-u.S. film so far in France, after “Serial (Bad) Weddings 2,” “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” “City Hunter” and “Tanguy 2,” all of which are franchise-based pics.
Charades is representing the film in international markets. Apollo, the company launched by former Gaumont and Studiocanal exec Francois Clerc, is handling French distribution in association with TF1 Studio, and is giving the movie a wide release in France across 511 screens.
“The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventures of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog,...
Written by Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith, the pair behind “Gnomeo and Juliet,” “The Queen’s Corgi” grossed approximately €304,000 euros from 44,701 tickets on Wednesday in France. It’s this year’s fifth-highest opening day for a non-u.S. film so far in France, after “Serial (Bad) Weddings 2,” “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” “City Hunter” and “Tanguy 2,” all of which are franchise-based pics.
Charades is representing the film in international markets. Apollo, the company launched by former Gaumont and Studiocanal exec Francois Clerc, is handling French distribution in association with TF1 Studio, and is giving the movie a wide release in France across 511 screens.
“The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventures of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog,...
- 4/12/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Stassen of nWave Studios is set to direct his next 3D animated feature, “Bigfoot Superstar,” the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot” (pictured), which was released internationally in 2017 and grossed more than $50 million worldwide.
Paris-based company Charades, which successfuly pre-sold Stassen’s “The Queen’s Corgi” worldwide, is re-teaming with Stassen on “Bigfoot Superstar” and has acquired worldwide sales rights to the feature outside of France, Benelux, Russia and Cis. Charades will introduce the project to buyers at the American Film Market.
Budgeted at more than $20 million, “Bigfoot Superstar” is based upon an original story by Stassen, and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker.
Stassen and Jérémie Degruson will direct the film, delivery of which is scheduled for summer of 2020.
In “Bigfoot Superstar,” the complete family is now together at home, and Adam, a teenager with superpowers, has become an in-demand star. Hoping to use his celebrity status to serve his greatest cause,...
Paris-based company Charades, which successfuly pre-sold Stassen’s “The Queen’s Corgi” worldwide, is re-teaming with Stassen on “Bigfoot Superstar” and has acquired worldwide sales rights to the feature outside of France, Benelux, Russia and Cis. Charades will introduce the project to buyers at the American Film Market.
Budgeted at more than $20 million, “Bigfoot Superstar” is based upon an original story by Stassen, and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker.
Stassen and Jérémie Degruson will direct the film, delivery of which is scheduled for summer of 2020.
In “Bigfoot Superstar,” the complete family is now together at home, and Adam, a teenager with superpowers, has become an in-demand star. Hoping to use his celebrity status to serve his greatest cause,...
- 10/23/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Matthieu Zeller’s production group Mzm has acquired a majority stake in nWave Studios, the thriving Brussels-based company behind Ben Stassen’s “The Son of Bigfoot” and “Sammy,” among other European animated hits.
Mzm was founded in 2016 by Zeller, a former Studiocanal executive, with the aim to produce and co-produce French and international films and TV series. Mzm, which regroups the production banners Octopolis and Bamboo Film, has joined with Belgium’s leading distribution company, Belga Films, as well as its tax-shelter arm, Belga Films Fund Holding, and regional fund Wallimage Entreprises to form a new entity, Next Wave, to complete the acquisition of nWave.
Since launching Mzm, Zeller has added two new partners: Olivier Sulpice and, most recently, Matthieu Gondinet, who just joined after working at Canal Plus for 15 years. Zeller and Gondinet had collaborated with nWave and its teams over the past years when nWave was partly owned by Studiocanal.
Mzm was founded in 2016 by Zeller, a former Studiocanal executive, with the aim to produce and co-produce French and international films and TV series. Mzm, which regroups the production banners Octopolis and Bamboo Film, has joined with Belgium’s leading distribution company, Belga Films, as well as its tax-shelter arm, Belga Films Fund Holding, and regional fund Wallimage Entreprises to form a new entity, Next Wave, to complete the acquisition of nWave.
Since launching Mzm, Zeller has added two new partners: Olivier Sulpice and, most recently, Matthieu Gondinet, who just joined after working at Canal Plus for 15 years. Zeller and Gondinet had collaborated with nWave and its teams over the past years when nWave was partly owned by Studiocanal.
- 9/20/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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