We reveal a first image above for the look of the faraway tree above.
BEN GREGOR:Its a movie about exploring and being outside.
The world went through so much change during the pandemic.
The Magic Faraway TreeElysian Film Group
Kids retreated into their screens and anxiety became a thing, right?.
This was ringing around my head.
The other big draw was working with Simon.
Weve done a lot of comedy together and both came up at a similar time through comedy.
DEADLINE: Can you set out the context for this new contemporary adaptation?
GREGOR:The story is about Fran, this anxious young child.
Her family lives on the campus of a big hi-tech company in London.
Its a comfortable home but theres the seductive sterility of modern living.
Theyre all in separate rooms.
When the mum loses her job, they end up in a ramshackle barn.
Its kind of aSwiss Family Robinsonthing.
Were gonna come together.
And theyre like, Sure, Dad.
They think its hell but the youngest one, Fran, goes into the woods and its beautiful.
Weve got this amazing piece of woodland to film in on these incredible estates, its really untouched.
Its like a timeless piece of England that is just pristine and beautiful.
They realise that its actually more fun.
Its not an anti-technology movie, but rather an anti-isolation movie.
For me, that really resonates.
Are you concerned that this could impact the reception of the film?
GREGOR:She was of her time.
I think that she was a genius andThe Magic Faraway Treeis the most fantastical stuff that she wrote.
It has to be diverse to be part of a modern Britain, modern Europe.
I come from a Czech background.
My dad came over in the 1968 Prague Spring to finish his medical studies in the United Kingdom.
I grew up with waifs and strays at our Christmas dinners, people who didnt quite fit in.
Im really keen in my work to address the feeling of fitting in and the film is about that.
Fran feels like she cant talk to anyone.
Shes anxious but then she is included by the Faraway Tree gang who are affable and pull her along.
I want to make an inclusive, vibrant and loving, funny film.
DEADLINE: We hear some big stars are being attached.
Can you reveal names?
GREGOR:I cant but were having some very good conversations with some really amazing people.
Thats all I can say at this point.
DEADLINE: Looking at the concept art, the scale is ambitious.
Will there be a lot of VFX?
Im definitely embracing VFX.
I love special effects.
Weve put the VFX into the art department so that theyre in at the very early stages.
Were working with Tim Ledbury who worked a lot with Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, onHarry Potter.
DEADLINE: Are you working with any particular VFX companies?
GREGOR:Were making our own company.
Well farm out to other people as well but Tims going to put together his own team.
DEADLINE: Is this the beginning of a franchise?
Are there plans to adapt the other books in the series?
DEADLINE: So with shooting scheduled to begin in June, what is the planned release date?
GREGOR:Christmas 25.
Its a family Christmas movie.
