STUDIOCANAL has boarded THE LAST BEAR. The feature adaptation of Hannah Gold’s bestselling, award-winning novel will be directed by Bertie Ellwood (TROOP ZERO, Marvel/Disney+’s HAWKEYE, Apple TV+’s SILO).
With three million copies in circulation worldwide, The Last Bear has been translated into 27 languages and won major accolades, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award, and was nominated for the Sakura Medal. The book has since launched a literary franchise with two sequels, including Finding Bear further expanding the emotionally rich and environmentally conscious universe created by Gold.
The screenplay was written by Patrick Burleigh (Marvel Studio‘s ETERNALS, PETER RABBIT 2), with ZQ‘s Ara Keshishian,Prime Universe Films‘ Adrian Askarieh, WexWorks‘ Matt Wexler, and ZQ’s Petr Jákl onboard to produce. The film’s development was financed by ZQ Entertainment and their partner RTF.
STUDIOCANAL will finance, distribute, handling worldwide sales. Ron Halpern, Shana Eddy and Sam Shipp will oversee for STUDIOCANAL.
Novelist Hannah Gold comments “I am absolutely thrilled to know that STUDIOCANAL and Bertie Ellwood will take the book to whole new heights.The Last Bear is the book of my heart and I am so excited to see it transferred to the screen and win over a new legion of fans.”
Director Bertie Ellwood expands “This is a story of bravery and rescue in every sense – between a girl and a bear, and just as powerfully, between a daughter and her father. It’s raw, hopeful, and exactly the kind of story I believe the world needs right now.”
STUDIOCANAL’s Ron Halpern and Shana Eddy conclude: “We fell in love with Hannah’s powerful book franchise for its heartwarming story of loss and reconnection as well as its timely environmental message. With Patrick’s exceptional adaptation and Bertie’s singular creative vision, we cannot wait to bring this story to family audiences everywhere.”
Casting for the two key roles of ‘April’ and ‘Edmund’ is underway.
After the death of her mother, 11-year-old recalcitrant April reluctantly follows her emotionally distant, climate-scientist father on a research trip to a remote Norwegian Island. There, without friends or cell service, she forms a unique relationship with a stranded and injured polar bear. Determined to help her new friend across the melting ice, April takes off on an adventure – one that might not only help save the bear but could also rebuild her heartbroken relationship with her father.
Bertie Ellwood is represented by Verve, Range, and The Nord Group.
Burleigh is repped by UTA, Kaplan/Perrone and Kopeikin Law.
