Utopai Studios is set to develop and produce an adaptation of the children’s book The Most Serious Fart by Mike Bender.
Bender is penning the screenplay and directing the film, which is planned for theatrical release, with Russell Hollander as producer. It has already spent several years in development and discussion with major studios. Utopai Studios’ AI-assisted production workflows have enabled the project to finally be realized.
“We were drawn to The Most Serious Fart because beneath the comedy is a universal story about wanting to be understood,” said Cecilia Shen, CEO and co-founder of Utopai Studios. “Mike believed in this project long before he found a studio prepared to fully support his vision. We believe Siegfried can become a major global franchise, and we look forward to bringing this film to audiences in theaters around the world.”
“Mike had a vision for this movie for a long time, but it was difficult to find a studio willing to take a chance on a character and a world as unconventional as Siegfried’s,” said Hollander. “The reality is it’s become more challenging to tell these kinds of original stories in traditional animation.”
Bender added, “After speaking with Cecilia and the team at Utopai, it became clear that they were focused on an artist-driven approach, allowing us to keep the unique look and feel of the book. It was really important to me that the book’s illustrator, Chuck Dillon, was involved in the development process, and Utopai Studios really embraced that. They understood the heart, humor, and importance of keeping the filmmakers at the center of the process. When I set out to write the book, I really wanted to create a sophisticated story about something people perceive as unsophisticated. Ultimately, we want this to feel like nothing anyone has ever seen before. I’m excited to bring the art to fart.”
Bender co-wrote and produced Not Another Teen Movie at Sony Pictures.
