Paris– LE PETIT PRINCE Groupe, guardian of the legacy and universe of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince, announces that it is working with acclaimed producer Aton Soumache on the development of an ambitious new international feature film inspired by the extraordinary life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the pioneering aviator and famous author of The Little Prince.

Since its publication in 1943, The Little Prince, written by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, with translations into 600 languages and dialects, making it one of the best-selling and most translated books in history.

The project brings together a world-class creative team. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Morten Tyldum, director of The Imitation Game and Passengers, will direct, from a screenplay by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, whose credits include Slumdog Millionaire, The Full Monty and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The project will also draw inspiration from Joann Sfar’s acclaimed graphic interpretation of The Little Prince, celebrated for its distinctive, deeply emotional vision of Saint-Exupéry’s universe and its portrayal of the relationship between the Little Prince and the Aviator.

Together, Sfar and Beaufoy have found a truly unique take on this story, paying tribute to the essence of the book and turning it into a sweeping family spectacle by fusing the enchanting, heartwarming charm of The Little Prince with the bold, brilliant, and passionate spirit of his friend, the Aviator (Saint Exupéry).

The Little Prince will be produced by Aton Soumache & Paul Trijbits for Magical Society, in collaboration with LE PETIT PRINCE Groupe.

A leading figure in European animation and family entertainment, Aton Soumache previously produced the acclaimed 2015 animated film The Little Prince, which grossed nearly $100 million worldwide and went on to win both the César for Best Animated Film and the BAFTA Children’s Award for Best Feature Film, directed by Mark Osborne, as well as international family entertainment successes including Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir and Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir – The Movie.

His return to Saint-Exupéry’s universe marks an exciting new chapter in a longstanding creative journey, this time with the ambition of creating a major international family adventure combining live action and state-of-the-art visual effects.

Paul Trijbits, who runs the London office of Magical Society, executive produced Netflix’s 4 family series The Letter for the King and Disney’s Saving Mr Banks, which grossed $180 million worldwide. His other credits include Paul Greengrass’ Bloody Sunday, Andrea Arnold’s Fishtank and Cary Fukanaga’s Jane Eyre.

The film will bring together Saint-Exupéry’s remarkable real-life story and the poetic, imaginative universe of The Little Prince, with renowned international talent.

While Saint-Exupéry’s extraordinary journey will unfold in live action, the Little Prince will be brought to life through visual effects, creating a powerful bridge between the real and the imaginary.

The ambition is to preserve the poetry, sensitivity and spirit of Saint-Exupéry’s iconic character while giving the Little Prince a new cinematic presence for today’s audiences.

The collaboration between LPP Groupe and Aton Soumache, together with Joann Sfar, Morten Tyldum, Simon Beaufoy and a world-class international creative team, aims to build on this unique heritage while opening a bold new cinematic chapter for Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince.

Further details regarding the film’s international cast, production partners and release plans will be announced in due course.

Sophie Kopaczynski, CEO of LE PETIT PRINCE Groupe said : “We are thrilled at LLP Groupe to partner once again with Aton Soumache, and with the exceptional creative team he has brought together, including Simon Beaufoy and Morten Tyldum, whose talent and vision make them the perfect storytellers for this project. Through his extraordinary life and writings, Antoine de Saint- Exupéry gave us a deeply humanist vision of the world that continues to resonate across generations and cultures. Our ambition is to honour his remarkable legacy through a spectacular cinematic adventure infused with the poetry and magic of The Little Prince.”

“The Little Prince is the most extraordinary text because it never goes out of fashion. It talks to the child in every human being. Everybody relates to that small child, who is the voice of truth that you sometimes don’t even want to hear. Undertaking the adaptation of such a revered literary work into a grand, broader fresco is a thrilling responsibility, and working on it alongside Morten and Joann is a magnificent journey. ” Simon Beaufoy says.

Director Morten Tyldum adds: “I see it as a very cinematic and epic story, one that gives us a wonderful opportunity to ask big questions. This is a story about love, grief and loss. It’s about hope, following your heart’s desire and seeing life as a big adventure.”

Joann Sfar says “I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the Saint Exupéry family, alongside whom I created The Little Prince comic book 15 years ago, to develop the concept of this unique film. With Simon Beaufoy writing it and Morten Tyldum directing it, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better team to bring this wonderful universe to life. My partners at Magical Society and I are very happy to carry this highly ambitious project of international scope.”

“I am deeply honored to be collaborating with LE PETIT PRINCE Groupe and to once again be entrusted with the Family’s confidence. After so many wonderful adventures together over the years, we felt that our next project had to be something truly special, unique and ambitious. This film is not simply an adaptation, but a celebration of The Little Prince, of its timeless story and its enduring spirit” says producer Aton Soumache. “With Joann Sfar, Simon Beaufoy, and Morten Tyldum, we have assembled a world-class team to create a modern live-action retelling that stays true to the heart of the book and protects its legacy. They have created a wonderful story that will deliver a big-scale, entertaining adventure: combining The Little Prince, which has touched people young and old with the adventurous, genius, passionate explorer and pilot Saint Exupéry is a magical mix.”

ABOUT LE PETIT PRINCE GROUPE
LE PETIT PRINCE Groupe is the global rights holder for the works of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the universe of The Little Prince. The company develops an international strategy across content, publishing, licensing, brand partnerships, and experiential activations, with the ambition of growing one of the world’s most influential cultural properties for generations to come.

ABOUT SIMON BEAUFOY
Simon Beaufoy is represented by Charlotte Knight at Knight Hall Agency, Robert Newman at WME, Theresa Kang at Blue Marble Co and Eric Brooks at GGSSC.