StudioCanal and Strong Film & Television have locked up the rights to Robin Stevens’ Murder Most Unladylike books and are developing a returnable children’s TV series.
The two companies, which partnered in 2023 when StudioCanal invested in Vigil director James Strong’s production outfit, have enlisted Emmy-winner Anna McCleery (Free Rein) to write the adaptation. Strong is attached as the lead director.
The series is pitched as Enola Holmes meets Agatha Christie, following two rebellious 1930s teen female detectives, Hazel and Daisy, as they unravel murder mysteries.
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McCleery has penned a six-part series, with each story playing out over two 45-minute episodes. With 12 books to draw material from, the hope is that Murder Most Unladylike can be a returnable series.
Murder Most Unladylike is housed at StudioCanal’s dedicated literary adaptation unit, StudioCanal Stories. Unladylike Productions, Stevens’ newly formed banner, is also producing. StudioCanal will handle worldwide merchandising and licensing.
M-K Kennedy, MD of StudioCanal Television, said: “The lead characters Daisy and Hazel are a duo worthy of Watson & Holmes stature, beloved by millions of fans across the world for their independence, curiosity and wicked sense of humour.”
Loretta Preece, Strong Film & Television’s co-creative director, said she had three daughters “locked into” the Unladylike fandom, while Stevens said it was a dream to bring the characters to screen. McCleery added: “I could not love these books more; they are clever, thrilling and bursting with humour and heart.”
Stevens’ novels were originally published by Puffin (an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s) in the UK and by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in the U.S.