Enid Blyton’s classic tales are getting a new lease of life as feature-length stories. 

The BBC have announced the start of filming on a new series of The Famous Five. Author Enid Blyton’s classic children’s stories are becoming a trio of feature-length adventures, created by Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Drive) and Matthew Read (Peaky Blinders).

If the first three go well there’s plenty of scope for more. Enid Blyton penned 21 stories for Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the Dog.

The BBC tells us…

The series follows five daring young explorers as they encounter treacherous, action-packed adventures, remarkable mysteries, unparalleled danger, and astounding secrets in an unforgettable odyssey that evokes the power of camaraderie between the fearless young heroes.

For this adaptation, the BBC are collaborating with Germany’s ZDF. Plus, the show’s already sold to France’s TF1 too.

Nicolas Winding Refn said:

“All my life I’ve fought vigorously to remain a child with a lust for adventure. By reimagining The Famous Five, I am preserving that notion by bringing these iconic stories to life for a progressive new audience, instilling the undefinable allure and enchantment of childhood for current and future generations to come.”

The Famous Five will be directed by Tim Kirkby and produced by Sophie MacClancy. Matthew Read writes the first episode and co-writes the third with Matthew Bouch. Priya K Dosanjh writes episode two.

The series comes from Moonage Pictures and byNWR Originals, with executive producers Nicolas Winding Refn, Matthew Read, Will Gould, Frith Tiplady, Christina Bostofte Erritzøe, Kimberly Willming and Matthew Bouch.

Filming is taking place now in the southwest of England.

Thoughts

So far, there’s no information yet as to how much of the original stories will make it to the screen. With the the press release using terms like “reimagining” and “progressive new audience”, we’ll doubtless hear predictable cries of dissent as more unpalatable elements are appropriately reframed. They could do a lot worse than to follow the pattern of CBBC’s Mallory Towers, now on its fourth series.

It’s also fascinating to see a figure such as Nicolas Winding Refn involved. It seems an unlikely move, but as Film Stories points out, he did direct Marple in 2007!

Of course, our hearts will always be with the iconic 1970s Southern Television series… We’ll keep you posted.