EXCLUSIVE: The BBC has acquired Michael Morpurgo adaptation Kensuke’s Kingdom.
The 2023 movie stars Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins and Raffey Cassidy (The Brutalist) and features the epic adventure of Michael, a young boy, shipwrecked on a remote island, who discovers he’s not alone when he encounters a mysterious Japanese man who retreated there after World War Two. As dangerous invaders appear on the horizon, it becomes clear they must join forces to save their fragile island paradise. Murphy and Hawkins play the mum and dad to Aaron McGregor’s Michael.
Kensuke’s Kingdom will launch on BBC iPlayer on August 3. Adapted by UK Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the much-loved Morpurgo book was nominated for a BAFTA earlier this year. Directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry, it also stars Aaron MacGregor (Puffin Rock) and Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai).
Kensuke’s Kingdom won numerous international film and film music awards including three British Animation Awards including Best Feature; Grand Prize at the New York International Children’s Film Festival and winner at the Indie Fest USA International Film Festival.
Lupus Films was behind Kensuke’s Kingdom. “We are delighted to be able to showcase our beautiful film on such a high-profile platform as BBC One and iPlayer,” said co-founder and producer Camilla Deakin. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to reach a wider audience and we hope BBC viewers are going to be as excited by Michael’s thrilling adventure as we were.”
Producers are Deakin and Ruth Fielding, Academy Award nominee Stephan Roelants of Melusine Productions, co-founder of Working Title Sarah Radclyffe, Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning producer Barnaby Spurrier, Co-Founder and CEO of Align Adrian Politowski and Senior Vice President, Martin Metz, along with award-winning producers Jean Labadie and Anne-Laure Labadie of Le Pacte.
Kensuke’s Kingdom is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Modern Films.
