London Based LOCKSMITH ANIMATION To Develop LISSA EVANS’ critically lauded Children’s Novel WED WABBIT As Family Feature

LONDON ANIMATION STUDIO TO DEVELOP COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD-NOMINATED TITLE AS FAMILY FEATURE

Locksmith Animation, the UK’s newly established CG feature animation studio, announced today that it has optioned the rights to author Lissa Evans’ critically lauded children’s comedy adventure novel Wed Wabbit, to develop into a family feature film.

Recently shortlisted for the prestigious 2017 Costa Children’s Book Award and the Blue Peter Book Award, Wed Wabbit was highly acclaimed on publication by The Times as ‘a marvel, a classic’, The Bookseller hailed it as ‘an absolute joy, incredibly funny and original, packing a fierce emotional punch’, and award-winning author of In Darkness Nick Lake wrote, “A masterpiece. In fifty years’ time people may say ‘It’s a bit like Wed Wabbit’ as they now say it’s a bit like Narnia’”.

Wed Wabbit follows ten-year-old Fidge as she is hurled into the bizarre world of her four-year-old sister’s favourite story book, the land of the Wimbley Woos. With two weird companions and her awful cousin Graham, she must find a way out by solving a series of nearly impossible clues, whilst fending off a cruel dictator who cannot pronounce his ‘r’s’….

A feature based on Evans’ novel for adults, ‘Their Finest Hour and A Half’ was released last year to acclaim as ‘Their Finest’, starring Bill Nighy and Gemma Arterton.

Locksmith Animation’s Sarah Smith commented “Lissa’s children’s books are absolute page-turners and passionate favourites among kids. The hilarious, magical and wildly inventive Wed Wabbit is unlike anything I’ve come across, an instant classic in the making, and built on a bedrock of truth about the rub in sibling relationships. It’s a fabulously imaginative canvas for a collaboration with Locksmith’s visual and story artists and as the parent of a Wed Wabbit devotee I couldn’t be more excited to work on bringing it to the big screen.”

Locksmith is in production on its first animated feature Ron’s Gone Wrong under its multi-picture deal with Twentieth Century Fox Film. The company intends to pursue a hybrid live action/animation format for Wed Wabbit.

Smith and Evans have a long relationship dating back to the beginning of their careers working alongside each other in radio and television comedy. Evans is represented by Georgia Garrett of Rogers, Coleridge and White. David Fickling Books handles book rights in Wed Wabbit.

Further details will be announced in due course.

About Locksmith Animation
Established in 2014, Locksmith Animation is the UK’s only dedicated high-end CG feature animation studio, encompassing the content creation, production and financing of CG animated feature films worldwide.

Founded by BAFTA® award-winning Director, Writer and Producer Sarah Smith, and critically acclaimed Producer, Julie Lockhart together with co-founder Elisabeth Murdoch, Locksmith Animation is home to an exceptional team of forward-thinking writers, directors, story leads and feature animation talent, each dedicated to producing compelling family films for global commercial release, which not only delight, but speak to the hearts of today’s children.

Headquartered in London, Locksmith Animation will produce their films in partnership with world-leading Visual Effects facility, Double Negative who provide the company’s digital pipeline.

About Lissa Evans
Lissa Evans started out in medicine, but after four years as a junior doctor she changed careers to become a comedy producer for radio and TV, where her credits included ‘Father Ted’ and ‘Room 101’. Her first novel (‘Spencer’s List’) was published in 2002.

Her debut book for children, Small Change for Stuart, was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the 2011 Costa Children’s Book Award. Lissa’s books for adults include Crooked Heart and Their Finest Hour and a Half, both of which were longlisted for the Baileys Prize. The film of the latter (‘Their Finest’ starring Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy) was released in 2017.

Lissa has two daughters and lives in London.