HBO and American Girl, one of the nation’s top direct marketers, children’s publishers and experiential retailers, have entered into an overall relationship to develop a variety of multi-platform ventures including theatrical films, series, specials and documentaries, it was announced today by HBO Films president Colin Callender and American Girl president Ellen L. Brothers.
The first project to be greenlit by HBO Films will be an American Girl live-action theatrical film based on the popular historical character Kit Kittredge, to be produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Marisa Yeres, from Goldsmith-Thomas Productions, in association with Julia Roberts and Lisa Gillan from Red Om Films, for release by Picturehouse. Written by Ann Peacock (HBO’s A Lesson Before Dying, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe), the film will tell the story of the clever and resourceful Kit Kittredge, a nine-year-old girl growing up in 1934 during America’s Great Depression. HBO Films senior vice president Julie Goldstein is the executive in charge of the production, which is scheduled to go into production this summer.
"We are thrilled to be working with Ellen Brothers and the team at American Girl, whose brand has become an extraordinary phenomenon in recent years," said Callender. "This is an unprecedented opportunity to align the forces of both the HBO and American Girl brands in a groundbreaking collaboration that will enable us to take advantage of the rapidly expanding, multi-platform, multi-faceted promotional opportunities spanning all areas of distribution."
"We are delighted to join forces with such talented partners to bring our much-loved American Girl characters to life," said Brothers. "Given the highly acclaimed and renowned work of HBO Films, Picturehouse, Goldsmith-Thomas Productions, and Red Om Films, there is no doubt we will be creating fabulous entertainment that will inspire and excite our legions of American Girl fans. We look forward to a successful partnership with all involved."
"American Girl, HBO Films and Picturehouse have set a standard for quality in their respective areas that remains unmatched," said Goldsmith-Thomas. "We are honored and excited to continue our successful partnership with American Girl, and look forward to collaborating with the wonderful team at HBO Films and Picturehouse in exploring opportunities for development of multi-platform content."
"Kit Kittredge is a wonderful character – a spirited young girl living in difficult times – and her stories teach the importance of giving to those who are less fortunate," said Bob Berney, president, Picturehouse. "We look forward to collaborating with all of our magnificent partners on this project – each giants in their own field – to bring this inspirational girl into movie theaters around the country."
Introduced in 2000 as the seventh American Girl historical character, Kit Kittredge will be the first one to have her story adapted for a theatrical film. Working in partnership with American Girl for the last five years, Goldsmith-Thomas Productions and Red Om Films have received nominations and awards for their telefilms Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure, and Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front.
ICM brokered the deal on behalf of American Girl.
About HBO Films
HBO Films, a division of Home Box Office, produces movies for the network as well as films for theatrical release.
Since 1989, HBO Films’ acclaimed movies and miniseries, which include Elizabeth I, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Angels in America, Wit and Empire Falls, have garnered 130 Emmy® Awards, winning the Outstanding Made for Television Movie Emmy® 12 of the last 14 years. HBO Films has captured 47 Golden Globe Awards since 1985, winning the Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV award for nine of the last 13 years. Most recently, Elizabeth I earned three Golden Globes, for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV, Best Actress (Helen Mirren) and Best Supporting Actor (Jeremy Irons).
Since 2003, HBO Films has received three Oscar® nominations – Catalina Sandino Moreno in the Best Actress category for Maria Full Of Grace, Yesterday in the Best Foreign Language Film and American Splendor for Best Adapted Screenplay. HBO Films won the Palme d’Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for director Gus Van Sant’s Elephant; Van Sant was also honored with the award for Best Director. At the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, Rocket Science earned the Best Directing: Dramatic Award for writer/director Jeffrey Blitz; the film is scheduled to be released by Picturehouse this August.
About American Girl
American Girl, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its mission with a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators.
American Girl dolls, books and related products are sold exclusively through the company’s consumer catalogue, online at www.americangirl.com, and at American Girl Place®, its proprietary retail stores in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005 or visit www.americangirl.com.
About Picturehouse
Launched in April 2005, Picturehouse is the joint venture of two leaders of the entertainment community – HBO and New Line Cinema. Currently in release is Guillermo del Toro’s gothic fairy tale Pan’s Labyrinth, which has been named to more than 130 critics’ top ten lists, received six Academy Award® nominations and grossed more than $27 million to date in North America. Up next is Starter for 10 from Tom Hanks’ Playtone Productions; El Cantante, a music-infused biography of Puerto Rican salsa pioneer Hector Lavoe, starring Jennifer Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony; Oliver Dahan’s Edith Piaf biopic, La Vie En Rose; Gracie, directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) and starring Oscar® nominee Elisabeth Shue, Andrew Shue and Carly Schroeder (Firewall, Mean Creek); and Francois Girard’s Silk, starring Michael Pitt, Keira Knightley, Koji Yakusho and Alfred Molina (www.picturehouse.com).
Contact Info:
HBO New York
Quentin Schaffer or Angela Tarantino
(212) 512-1329 or -1631
HBO Los Angeles
Nancy Lesser or Karen Jones
(310) 382-3274 or 3278
American Girl
Julie Parks, Pleasant Company Publicity
(608) 836-4848
Picturehouse
Nina Baron
(212) 649-6112
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