Netflix acquires rights to 22 Redwall books, movie clips and series

Netflix has acquired the rights to 22 books in Brian Jacques’ fantasy series Redwall, marking the first time that the rights to the entire series have been purchased by a film or television company. Netflix has struck a rights deal with book publisher Penguin Random House Children, according to Deadline.

This is a major franchise move, even for Netflix, as the books are considered classics by many and have sold over 30 million copies. The series follows the fantastic adventures of noble and heroic talking animals. Each book in the series was written by author Brian Jacques, who died in 2011 shortly before the publication of the 22nd book.

The streaming network plans to create both a feature film and an event TV series. The film will be based on the first book in the series, simply titled Redwall. The screenplay will be written by Patrick McHale, who is best known as the creator of the critically acclaimed Cartoon Network animated miniseries. Above the garden wall.

McHale is also working with director Guillermo del Toro on a modern adaptation of Pinocchio, also for Netflix. Pinocchio should be released this year.

Netflix will also launch a series centered on the character of Martin the Warrior, for whom the sixth book of the Redwall the series was titled.

Redwall was never adapted into a feature film, but it was made into a three-season animated series for a Canadian television station which ran from 1999 to 2002. The series also aired in the United States on PBS. All three seasons of the Canadian series were based on the books Redwall, Mattimeo, and Martin the warrior.

As is often the case with announcements like this, one of the parties to the deal released a public statement – in this case, Alan Ingram of The Redwall Abbey Company:

Brian has often traveled around the world telling his Redwall stories to young audiences, most often in their schools … Brian would have been very happy to see Netflix share his joy and desire to bring his stories to life as a new world of movies, series and much more for audiences of all ages.

No release date or window has yet been set for the film or TV series.