Nicolas Winding Refn, the Danish director known for his films such as “Drive” and “The Neon Demon,” has taken on an unexpected project: rebooting Enid Blyton’s classic series of children’s books, “The Famous Five.” This news comes as a surprise to many, as Refn is known for his edgy and boundary-pushing style, which is often characterized by extreme visuals and violent content.
Enid Blyton wrote a total of 21 books about the adventures of Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and their dog Timmy, starting with “Five on a Treasure Island” in 1942. The series has been adapted for television multiple times, but Refn’s adaptation will be a new limited series that has already begun filming in the southwest of the U.K.
Refn will serve as both creator and producer on the project, through his company byNWR Originals, in collaboration with BBC Studios-backed Moonage Pictures and German public broadcaster ZDF. The three 90-minute episodes of “The Famous Five” will be directed by Tim Kirkby, who previously worked on Mike Myers’ Netflix comedy series “The Pentaverate.” The series has also been presold to TF1 for distribution in France.
The announcement of the reboot promises that this new version of “The Famous Five” will be a modern, timely, and irreverent action series with adventure at its heart. This suggests that Refn’s adaptation will have a fresh and contemporary take on the beloved children’s books. It will be interesting to see how Refn’s unique style and sensibility translate into a family-friendly project like “The Famous Five.”
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Refn himself expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating that he has always fought to remain a child with a lust for adventure. By reimagining “The Famous Five,” he hopes to bring these iconic stories to a progressive new audience and capture the allure and enchantment of childhood for generations to come.
The reboot of “The Famous Five” was commissioned by BBC and ZDF, with Sarah Muller and Amy Buscombe leading the project. BBC Studios, who handle international sales, brokered the co-production and presales deals with ZDF and TF1. The series is expected to be a great asset for TF1’s programming, as it aligns with the network’s editorial line and provides a great opportunity for family viewing.
The scripts for the series were co-written by Matthew Read, Priya K Dosanjh, and Matthew Bouch. In addition to Refn, the executive producers include Read, Gould, Tiplady, Erritzøe, Willming, and Bouch. The series is being produced by Sophie MacClancy.
Overall, the reboot of “The Famous Five” by Nicolas Winding Refn is an intriguing development in the world of children’s television. With Refn’s unique vision and style, this new adaptation promises to be a departure from the previous adaptations and a fresh take on Enid Blyton’s beloved characters. Fans of both Refn and “The Famous Five” will surely be excited to see how this unexpected collaboration unfolds.
