If you’re a fan of Enid Blyton’s books, you’re gonna love this…
The Faraway Tree books by Enid Blyton are set to be brought to the big screen by Oscar-winning director, Sam Mendes. The stories about a group of children and their adventures in a gigantic tree in a magical forest was the childhood anthem of generations of children worldwide, and Mendes is hoping a film of their tales will bring the same magic Enid puts in her books to the cinema.
His firm Neal Street Productions, whose credits include Call The Midwife and the Oscar-nominated Revolutionary Road, will make a live action film soon based on the four books, written between 1939 and 1951.
Blyton’s series of four novels, The Enchanted Wood, The Magic Faraway Tree, The Folk Of The Faraway Tree, and Up The Faraway Tree, are based around the tree, which is tall enough to reach the clouds and home to small houses.
Pippa Harris from Neal Street Productions, said “The Magic Faraway Tree is one of the most loved children’s books series from an iconic author. To be able to adapt these for the big screen is incredibly exciting.”
Blyton, best known for her Famous Five and Secret Seven books, died in 1968 but her books have remained popular and have sold more than 500 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. Marlene Johnson, of the Enid Blyton Estate, said “Enid Blyton was a passionate advocate of children’s storytelling, and The Magic Faraway Tree is a fantastic example of her creative imagination.”
“It’s a much loved title, so we’re very excited to announce we’ve signed an option agreement for development of The Magic Faraway Tree film with Neal Street Productions.” she continued. “Many generations have grown up with The Magic Faraway Tree and this news provides a great chance to share the wonder of these stories through a new medium.”
Mendes, who was married to Kate Winslet and shared a son with, directed the Bond films, Skyfall and Spectre, starring Daniel Craig. The British director, who married classical musician Alison Balsom just recently, also won a Best Director Oscar and Golden Globe for American Beauty, which came out in 1999.
Though no production or release dates are announced, we’re still pretty psyched that the ball is sort of rolling!