Netflix has unveiled Cirque du Soleil — Luna Petunia, the first TV co-production from Saban Brands and Cirque du Soleil Media.
The streamer will launch the animated preschool series inspired by the Quebec-based circus troupe as a Netflix original series for kids worldwide in Fall 2016. “With Saban Brands’ history of developing iconic characters that resonate with children, combined with the artistic creativity of Cirque du Soleil, we know Luna Petunia will introduce an engaging world that will have strong appeal across our global members,” Erik Barmack, vp of global independent content at Netflix, said in a statement Wednesday.
Cirque du Soleil — Luna Petunia follows the adventures of a little girl named Luna Petunia who plays in a dreamland where she learns how to make the impossible possible. Netflix will debut 11 half-hours of the Canadian series, on which Bradley Zweig (Sid the Science Kid, Krypto) will serve as the showrunner, simultaneously in the U.S. and international territories.
Plans are also in the works for a consumer products line from Saban Brands, interactive digital content and a potential live tour. “The Netflix debut of Cirque du Soleil — Luna Petunia will kick off a comprehensive franchise rollout of numerous off-platform extensions,” Saban Brands president Elie Dekel added.
Saban Brands, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, in February 2014 pacted with Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil Media to co-produce kids TV series with online content and merchandising spinoffs. “Cirque du Soleil — Luna Petunia is our first television series for kids and, with distinguished partners like Saban Brands and Netflix, we have no doubt this property will elevate kids’ entertainment by empowering preschool boys and girls to use their own creative potential to make the impossible possible,” Jacques Methe, Cirque du Soleil Media president, said.
{ SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter | http://goo.gl/96T7vI }
