Simon & Schuster connects with Foundation Media Partners for first-look deal on children’s film and TV projects

Simon & Schuster has announced a partnership with Foundation Media Partners with a first-look deal to develop children’s film and TV projects mined from S&S’s back catalogue. Foundation will focus on developing and adapting a multi-title slate from Simon & Schuster’s Little Simon Chapter Books & Graphic Novels as animated and/or live action properties for film and television.

Previously, Foundation has adapted and produced the animated feature Bad Guys, based on Aaron Blabey’s children’s book franchise, for Dreamworks Animation and Universal Pictures, Most recently it has adapted and produced Blabey’s Thelma the Unicorn book franchise as a feature film for Netflix. Foundation’s Patrick Hughes is currently executive producing Bad Guys 2 with Dreamworks Animation and Universal.

Foundation Media Partners founder and c.e.o. Patrick Hughes brokered the company’s deal with Simon & Schuster.

Hughes said: “The creative team at Simon & Schuster are as passionate about storytelling and franchise building as we are at Foundation, and together we’re looking to create a new standard for how stories are told and experienced by young audiences. Having access and first-look rights to one of the most prominent and voluminous libraries on the planet is a rare opportunity with endless possibilities.”

Amy Wilson, Foundation Media’s v.p. of development and production, added: “Each book we’ll adapt and develop with Simon & Schuster will be distinct in its own way but share emotion, comicality and sense of discovery that we love to reflect in children’s properties we bring to the screen. This is an enormous creative exercise we’re all looking forward to very much.”

Valerie Garfield, senior vice president and publisher of licensed, novelty and branded publishing in the Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to partner with Foundation Media to bring great characters and series to life in a new dimension for our avid readers. We believe great content can co-exist across many platforms and each one will enrich the storytelling experience.”