This MIPCOM sees the official launch of the highly-anticipated tween drama spy series The Lady Grace Mysteries, a Cottonwood Media and Coolabi Group Production, in co-production with ZDF Studios, commissioned by BBC Children’s and Education and ZDF (with pre-sale to France Télévisions, and support from North East Screen and NEScreen Industries Partnership).
To mark the launch of The Lady Grace Mysteries (10 x 24’) which is budgeted at 9.5M euros distributors Federation Kids & Family and ZDF Studios will be hosting a private screening/event (by invite only) for buyers at MIPCOM.
Taking place on Sunday 12th October, the event will feature a screening of two full episodes, followed by a Q&A with Cottonwood Media’s Head of Fiction (and BAFTA nominated producer) Manon Ardisson. Delivery of the series is scheduled to commence this fall.
Based on the children’s detective fiction novels of the same name, The Lady Grace Mysteries blends the magic of the historical Elizabethan Golden Age with contemporary teenage life. It centres around 14-year-old Lady Grace Cavendish, the world’s first female teenage detective working as a private spy for Queen Elizabeth I, who navigates the dangerous waters of royal politics in an English court full of plots, threats, and mystery!
With her best friends – Ellie, and Masou at her side – Grace must juggle the pressures of teen life with solving crimes, foiling assassination attempts, and more, whilst dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl.
The Lady Grace Mysteries is a smart, adventurous drama that brings with it universal themes of friendship, betrayal, romance, and empowerment – and fun!
The visuals and costumes in particular stand out, with a look of the period, however vibrant colours (not seen in Tudor era) textures and little ornate details all have a contemporary feel, whilst the script has been created so the young actors speak as would kids of today, and this is accompanied by a pop rock/electro vibe.
David Michel, Managing Director and Monica Levy, Co-Chief of Distribution, Federation Kids & Family said, “This is a ‘Bridgerton’ style series but for kids. A spy drama that strikes the right blend of comedy, romance, and mystery to engage the tween (and family) demo. Set in the Elizabethan period, the cast, storylines and contemporary nuances are all interwoven into a uniquely relatable modern-day intriguing tapestry. And we really looking forward to presenting the first episodes to our buyers.”
Arne Lohmann, VP Junior, ZDF Studios said, “In the space of 1 ½ years we have gone from pre-production to delivery – and this is thanks to the great co-pro partners. We know our younger audiences are becoming more sophisticated in their viewing habits, and have to move in tandem with this evolution, so we have created a series that has a primetime and cinematic feel but with multiple layers of mystery, comedy, intrigue, and more, to engage kids and a wider audience. The end result we feel is very unique, and we are confident our buyers will share our enthusiasm.”
