Leading Independent Studio To Develop Film, Television, Live Stage and Related Merchandise In Partnership with Handmade Films
Leading independent film and television studio MRC announced it has secured film, television, live stage and related ancillary rights for one of the most iconic and celebrated properties of all time, “Eloise,” a series of children’s books written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. MRC will work closely with Handmade Films and collaborate with the Thompson estate, illustrator Knight, as well as Simon & Schuster, the book series’ publisher, to develop the property. Handmade’s Trudi Francis will serve as an executive producer on all productions.
First published by Simon & Schuster in 1955, Thompson’s “Eloise,” with hilarious illustrations by Knight, was an overnight sensation. The books have sold more than 15 million English-language copies to date, with sales all over the world, of course Eloise has been to Paris and Moscow!
“We are honored to be entrusted with bringing Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight’s beloved Eloise to life for a new generation of children, as well as all her ardent admirers throughout the years,” said MRC Film Co-Presidents Brye Adler, Jonathan Golfman and MRC Television President Elise Henderson. “We are thrilled to be once again partnering with Handmade and cannot wait to see what mishaps and adventures Eloise gets herself into.”
Over sixty years later and not a day over six, Eloise is so good at being bad, that she has earned respect, respect, respect of precocious adults everywhere. She’s the impish kid in all of us. Eloise is a self-assured child who lives in a luxurious hotel in New York, The Plaza. She is looked after by her British nurse, Nanny, and has two beloved pets: a dog named Weenie and a turtle, Skipperdee, for whom she calls room service and orders “one roast-beef bone, one raisin and seven spoons” and insists that they “charge it please!” She has her own language with endless monologues, and a rather enormous imagination. If something is amiss, Eloise usually has a hand in it.
“Eloise is a beloved, multi-generational little girl who has had over 60 years of great fun and adventures,” said Handmade Films’ Trudi Francis. “We are very proud to have been involved with Eloise since 2003, working with the late Kay Thompson’s family, Hilary, the team at Simon & Schuster and Stephen Miller at The Plaza Hotel. We have always ensured we respect the fond memories of existing fans, and now look forward to introducing her to a whole new generation, with our friends at MRC, with whom we are delighted to be working with again on a project very dear to us.”
About Handmade Films
Handmade Films was founded by George Harrison in 1979, famously to help Monty Python make ‘Life of Brian’. Eric Idle was later to comment that it was ‘the most expensive film ticket in history’. Today, Handmade is privately owned and has in its back catalogue, of over 100 films, classic titles such as “Time Bandits,” “The Long Good Friday,” “Withnail & I,” “Powwow Highway” and Robert Altman’s “Images,” as well as “Eloise.” Handmade selectively works with respected and trusted partners on any projects, to ensure the history of the company is respected. For more visit: www.handmadefilms.film or www.eloise.com
About MRC
MRC is a leading independent film and television studio, which sources, finances, develops, and produces content in partnership with the industry’s foremost creative talent. To date, MRC films have grossed more than $4.8 billion in worldwide box office and its projects have been nominated for 19 Golden Globe® Awards, 71 Emmy® Awards, 11 Academy Awards®, and 2 GRAMMY Awards®. Current and upcoming films include: “Knives Out,” distributed by Lionsgate and in theaters now, written and directed by Rian Johnson, produced by Ram Bergman and starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell and Christopher Plummer; and “The Lovebirds,” directed by Michael Showalter, starring Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae, slated for April 3, 2020 from Paramount. The studio was also behind “Baby Driver,” “Ted,” “Babel,” and “Elysium,” among others. MRC is known for groundbreaking television series including “House of Cards,” “Ozark,” and “Counterpart.” Upcoming series include season three of the Emmy-award winning “Ozark,” from Chris Mundy and starring Jason Bateman, Laura Linney and Julia Garner for Netflix; new Hulu series “The Great,” from Tony McNamara, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult; and “The Outsider,” based on the Stephen King novel and from Richard Price, starring Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo and from director and executive producer Jason Bateman, coming January 12 on HBO.
MRC Film and MRC Television are divisions of Valence Media, a diversified and integrated global media company that includes dick clark productions, the largest producer and proprietor of television live-event programming broadcasts, and the world’s leading entertainment news and music publisher The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group. Valence Media has minority investments in A24, Fulwell 73 and T-Street. For more information, please visit www.mrcstudios.com
Press Contact:
Amy Pfister / Valence Media/MRC
P. 818-309-5395
E. apfister@valencemedia.com
Emily Spence / Valence Media/MRC
P. 310-786-1677
E. espence@valencemedia.com
Handmade Films
Press@handmadefilms.film
Press@eloise.com