Cosmo Maya to adapt Rudyard Kipling’s "Kim" novel to an animated feature film

Cosmos-Maya have hand-picked Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel "Kim" and will adapt it into a feature-length animated film. They have joined hands with Irish animation studio Piranha Bar to co-develop the feature film. Award-winning director Ketan Mehta will direct the film. Ketan Mehta, James V. Hart and Jake Hart have co-written the screenplay.

Dave Burke, CEO, Piranha Bar, comments: “We are thrilled to be involved with Cosmos Maya in bringing Kipling's final and most famous novel to the big screen. Creating the world of Lahore, Kimball O'Hara and the full ensemble of diverse characters has been an incredibly ambitious and successful undertaking for our teams in Ireland and Mumbai. We now set our sights on bringing Kipling's visually striking and emotionally gripping story of Kim, the original child spy, to life.”

Anish Mehta, CEO, Cosmos-Maya, says: “With Cannes Film Festival about to commence, we couldn’t be more pleased to announce our animated feature film version of the legendary text from none other than Rudyard Kipling. Adapting this timeless tale, much beloved around the globe, is a true honour. With our co-production partner Piranha Bar, talented director Ketan Mehta, and acclaimed writer James V. Hart, we’re confident this will excite audiences all over the world. We’re looking forward to bringing more partners on board for this brilliant IP, and it’s fantastic that we’ll be able to have these conversations in person at the upcoming festival.”

Kipling is one of the oldest writers coming from the European markets with a strong Indian connection. His stories had strong cross-over themes much before the terminology cross-over came into being. Set in 1890’s India, Kim is a Kung Fu odyssey about the eponymous original child spy and his exploits that are full of friendship, treachery, and adventure. In the story, as external forces attempt to take control of colonial-era India, savvy street kid Kim becomes the apprentice of a Shaolin Monk and an unlikely spy for the British Empire in an epic voyage of self-discovery.