Mercury Filmwork has secured a co-production deal with Serious Kids for "A Mouse Called Julian."“We are excited to work with the very talented creative and business team at Mercury Filmworks," Genevieve Dexter CEO of Serious Kids said. "The book ‘A Mouse Called Julian’ has been translated into 19 languages and we feel confident it will have the widest international appeal.”
Through this deal, Serious Kids will co-produce the special from the UK with Mercury Filmworks leading from Canada. Both parties will jointly raise finance internationally which will include investment from Serious Kids against the international distribution rights. The deal follows the company's recent announcement that they wish to widen the scope of creative opportunities for their talent, including projects in CGI.
"A Mouse Called Julian" is based on the "eponymous(e?)" British picture book by Joe Todd-Stanton, published by Flying Eye Books which follows the tale of Julian, a mouse who is perfectly happy being by himself. That is until one day, he has an unexpected dinner guest... a fox who tries to sneak into Julian’s burrow but finds itself stuck head first in Julian’s front door!
At first alarmed and wary, they soon find themselves having a lovely dinner together, and it’s not long before each realizes that they have found a lifelong friend. A story that conveys messages about the importance of friendship and taking the time to look at people a little deeper. It’s a powerful celebration of finding friendship in unexpected places.“The team at Serious Kids brings not only a deep and respected level of experience as an international co producer and distributor," Chantal Ling VP of Co-Productions and Originals at Mercury Filmworks said. "They are led by the wonderful Genevieve Dexter who we have been longing to find the right opportunity to collaborate with.”