Viva Pictures Distribution, Cantilever Media, and HarperCollins Productions have entered a three-title co-pro deal for book-based films aimed at a four-quadrant audience.
The titles will be inspired by IP from HarperCollins Publishers, beginning with development on Mischief and Mayhem, a graphic novel by Ken Lamug.
Viva Pictures will distribute the films in North America while Cantilever’s distribution arm, Kazoo Films, will take all the films for release in the U.K. and Ireland.
“HarperCollins has one of the most treasured catalogs in children’s publishing, with stories that have shaped imaginations for generations,” said Victor Elizalde, president of Viva Pictures. “This partnership allows us to bring that storytelling legacy to life on screen in a way that’s both creatively ambitious and globally scalable. With our animation studio in Spain and Cantilever’s world-class production expertise, we’re building a slate of high-quality, emotionally rich films that can travel across markets and generations — strengthening Viva’s long-term strategy to grow our portfolio of original, globally marketable IP.”
“Cantilever’s mission has always been to champion storytelling that connects emotionally while standing up commercially on the global stage,” said Andrew Baker, founder and CEO of Cantilever Media and Kazoo Films. “By joining forces with Viva Pictures and HarperCollins, we’re combining creative excellence with strategic ambition — turning celebrated literary properties into cinematic worlds that can inspire, entertain, and endure. This collaboration brings together the best of British creativity and international reach, paving the way for stories with true cultural and commercial longevity.”
Caroline Fraser, head of HarperCollins Productions, added, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Viva Pictures and Cantilever Media on a dynamic slate of animated movies that will bring some of our most hilarious and original stories to the screen. By combining HarperCollins’s unmatched library of storytelling with their expertise in animation and distribution, we are creating a powerful path for our authors and their incredible stories to reach even broader audiences around the world — whether in theaters, on streaming platforms, or in new international markets. Together, we look forward to building an enduring pipeline of animated movies.”
