FOUR KIDS AND IT Starring Michael Caine, Bill Nighy And Matthew Goode To Begin UK Photography In August

Two-time Academy Award winner Michael Caine (THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, THE DARK KNIGHT, YOUTH), BAFTA Award Winner and Golden Globe Winner Bill Nighy (LOVE ACTUALLY, BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) and Matthew Goode (THE IMITATION GAME, THE GOOD WIFE, DOWNTON ABBEY) will star in the family action adventure film FOUR KIDS AND IT directed by BAFTA Award nominee Andy De Emmony (FATHER TED, WEST IS WEST), it was announced today.

Produced by Dan Films’ Julie Baines and Anne Brogan of Kindle Entertainment, the screenplay is written by Simon Lewis and adapted from the novel “Four Children and It” by best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson. Additional writing is provided by Mark Oswin.

The film is slated to begin principal photography in August on location in the UK.

13 Films is handling worldwide rights to the project outside of the UK and is actively selling the film to buyers at the Cannes Market.

FOUR KIDS AND IT is the fun, family action adventure story of four children who are horrified to learn that their beach holiday is in fact a bonding trip with their potential future step siblings. During an argument, they accidently find a magical, sandy, grumpy creature called the Psammead who can grant them one wish a day – only to see the wish cancelled as soon as the sun sets. The kids must learn to work together and choose their wishes wisely as an evil villain (Nighy) tries his best to steal the Psammead for himself.

The Psammead, voiced by Michael Caine, is designed by acclaimed creature creators Brian and Wendy Froud. Brian is the conceptual character designer for Jim Henson’s THE DARK CRYSTAL and LABYRINTH and Wendy is the original creator of STAR WARS’ Yoda.

The creature fx for the film are being provided by MILK – the company behind the Oscar winning visual effects in EX MACHINA.

The film is based on Jacqueline Wilson’s retelling of the classic story Five Children and It written by E. Nesbit in 1902. Four Children and It was published in 2012 as part of the Puffin Classics 30 year celebration. Jacqueline Wilson is a celebrated children’s author whose titles have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Multiple books written by Wilson have appeared on the list of the 100 most popular books in the UK and she was named the most borrowed author in Britain’s libraries for six consecutive years.

“We are all ready for a beautiful, classic, fun, family tale and this film ticks all the boxes,” said Tannaz Anisi President of 13 Films. “Jacqueline Wilson has created a wonderful, magical world that is now in the hands of exceptional filmmakers and cast that will bring the story to life to delight us all. I just can’t wait.”