The Neverending Story in production from Michael Ende Productions, See-Saw Films
March 20, 2024
Michael Ende Productions and See-Saw Films are going into partnership to develop and produce live action films adapted from Michael Ende’s iconic novel The Neverending Story.
The partnership has been granted the rights to The Neverending Story by Ende’s executor, Dr. Wolf-Dieter von Gronau.They are starting the process of finding the right creatives to bring the novel to life.
First published in 1979 The Neverending Story, written by Michael Ende, has since been translated into 45 languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, See-Saw Films, commented: “Michael Ende’s ‘The Neverending Story’ is a beloved book that has captured the imagination of generations of fans all over the world. Bringing literary worlds to screen is part of See-Saw’s DNA, and we are passionate about cinematic storytelling and entertaining audiences. We have such love for the book and are honoured to be working with Michael Ende Productions on this collaboration to bring audiences back to Fantastica.”
Roman Hocke, Michael Ende Productions, added: “Michael Ende’s ‘The Neverending Story’ is more than just a story. It is THE story of all stories, because it tells us, alongside the breath-taking journey of Atréju and Bastian in a fantasy world, the real reason why stories play such an important role in our lives that we want to internalise them in all shapes and forms throughout our lives. Without stories there would be no individuality, no personalities, no sense of meaning in the world. We want to transform this unique story into a great cinematic work of art for a wide audience. We feel lucky to have See-Saw Films by our side for this great task!”
The Neverending Story begins in an old bookstore, where a young Bastian Balthasar Bux discovers a mysterious book: “The Neverending Story”. Instantly hooked, he reads about the heroic Atréyu and his dangerous mission to save the realm of Fantastica and its ruler, the Childlike Empress, from being erased by ‘The Nothing’, a force of total oblivion. Bastian, unable to put the book down, soon realises that he is more than an uninvolved spectator and ultimately finds himself transported into Fantastica. On his many adventures, Bastian must find his way back out of Fantastica, back to the people he loves and back to himself. But how do you leave a world without borders?
Producers will be Iain Canning and Emile Sherman for See-Saw Films; Roman Hocke and Ralph Gassmann for Michael Ende Productions.
Michael Ende Productions and See-Saw Films will be working with Lorenzo De Maio, who will be an Executive Producer on the films, along with Wolf-Dieter Von Gronau, and See-Saw Films’ Simon Gillis and Helen Gregory.
The deal was negotiated by Michael Ende’s executor Dr. Wolf-Dieter von Gronau on behalf of Michael Ende Productions and See-Saw Films’ COO, Simon Gillis and attorney Stephen Saltzman of Fieldfisher, on behalf of See-Saw Films.
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