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Coproduced by Coolabi Productions and ZDF Studios for France Télévisions, BBC and ZDF
Distributed by Federation Kids & Family and ZDF Studios
October 10th 2024
The series, scheduled to shoot in spring 2025 at a castle in England, is based on the children’s detective fiction series of the same name, first published in 2004 and which immense popularity led to the publication of 12 titles in the series, multiple international editions, and over 300,000 books sold worldwide.
Manon Ardisson, Head of Fiction at Cottonwood Media, and Lead Director Alexander Jacob, Managing Director for Cottonwood Media Ltd, will oversee the production.
Lead writer is Emmy award-winning Anna McCleery, known for the NETFLIX series Free Rein, CBBC/BYU’s A Kind of Spark and Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.
Federation Kids & Family and ZDF Studios are handling worldwide sales.
The Lady Grace Mysteries, which targets 8 – 12 year olds, tells the story of Lady Grace Cavendish, the world’s first female teenage detective working as a private spy for Queen Elizabeth I and navigating the dangerous waters of royal politics in an English court full of plots, threats and mystery. Orphaned but fearless, Grace has spent her youth outwitting palace guards, avoiding the responsibilities of being a lady-in-waiting, and most importantly, finessing the fine art of swiping jam tarts! With her best friends – the savvy servant Ellie, and the dazzling performer Masou, at her side – she has to deal with the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl, while investigating perilous mysteries.
Co-founders of Cottonwood Media, David Michel, Cécile Laurenson and Zoé Carrera Allaix said: “When Coolabi introduced the books to us, it was one of those precious moments when you can instantly picture a really cool TV show. Packed with intrigue, wit, adventure and humour, the response from the broadcasters involved was incredibly positive from the get-go. And we are delighted to be working with such amazing partners on something we feel will take tween viewers on an amazing up-beat historical adventure allowing them to tap into their own inner sleuth.”
About ZDF Studios:
ZDF Studios is a commercial subsidiary of ZDF, one of the largest TV broadcasters in Europe. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Mainz, Germany, the ZDF Studios Group operates more than 30 direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom spanning TV production, distribution and services. The parent company, ZDF Studios, is responsible for global programme distribution, realisation of international co-productions, acquisition of licences and merchandising of successful programme brands under its own name, for ZDF and third parties. ZDF Studios has the largest German-language programme inventory in the world and a constantly growing range of international productions, consisting of series and mini-series, television films, documentaries and children’s programmes. The companies of the ZDF Studios Group cover the entire value chain from the development of scripted and unscripted TV content to production, marketing and monetizing, including TV and streaming licences as well as merchandising and online rights. The positioning of ZDF Studios as an integrated media company enables the development of innovative, outstanding and high-quality programmes and makes the Group an attractive workplace for German and international talent to flourish in a very inspiring and creative environment.
About Cottonwood Media:
Cottonwood Media (a subsidiary of Federation Studios and part of its kids’ division Federation Kids & Family) was founded by David Michel, Zoé Carrera Allaix and Cécile Laurenson. Cottonwood Media creates, produces, and invests in premium talent-driven content with a focus on bringing together North American and European audiences on both linear and non-linear platforms. In 2015 Cottonwood Media partnered with Federation Studios to create Federation Kids & Family, a global distribution division which distributes original content and third party acquisitions. Based in Paris and Berlin, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto, Cottonwood’s productions include live-action series such as Circuit Breakers (sci-fi for Apple TV), Spellbound (ballet/witchcraft), Theodosia (period Egyptology/adventure), Find Me in Paris (time-travelling ballet themed, airing in over 90 territories), animated feature film Around the World in 80 Days distributed by Studio Canal (#1 French movie in Box office international in 2021), and animated series 20 Dance Street (dramedy/ballet), The Ollie and Moon Show (pre-school), and the wacky comedy Squish (6-10 yrs).
About Coolabi Productions:
We are a global leader in the creation of fiction for children and Young Adult and an award-winning creator of TV and digital content for children and family. Warrior Cats, Beast Quest and Rainbow Magic are but three of more than 200 series and 2,000+ book titles we have created and licensed to publishers through our book business, Working Partners. We add 60/70 new titles to our catalogue every year. Licensed in over 40 languages, lifetime sales across our list exceeds 200 million copies. Coolabi Productions develops and produces our book IP with TV partners. Clangers, Scream Street and Poppy Cat are part of our existing hit television portfolio: developed and produced in-house, and licensed in over 140 countries. Warrior Cats and Beast Quest feature in our fast-growing digital arm: app downloads currently stand at over 20 million. Our Warrior Cats Roblox game has been played 500 million+ times, whilst Warrior Cats UGC animation has over half-a-billion YouTube views and viewed on TikTok almost two billion times.
About France TV:
First French media, France Télévisions offers 6,600 hours of children and youth programs on linear France Télévisions channels, the platform kids Okoo and the platform France.tv Slash for young adults.
About Federation Kids & Family:
Federation Kids & Family is a global kids’ content producer and distributor, and a division of Federation Studios, a leading global media powerhouse specializing in high-end international programming. Federation Kids & Family distributes premium original content featuring animated series and specials, as well as talent-driven live action drama series. Titles include LIVE ACTION tween series such as the K-pop inspired coming-of-age dramedy Gangnam Project, the global hit Find Me in Paris (ballet/time travel), Spellbound (witchcraft/ballet), Theodosia (period Egyptology-themed), ANIMATION series such Simon Super Rabbit (hit preschool long-running series), Monster Shaker, The New Adventures of the Triplets, The Ollie and Moon Show, Squish, Presto! School of Magic, and DOCU-STYLE series Let’s Dance, to name a few. Federation Kids & Family also focuses on building strategic partnerships and alliances with major international companies and broadcasters.
