The magic of Roald Dahl is set to soar across our screens once more, with the announcement that the beloved author’s stories will be adapted for a new Netflix event series.
Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company jointly announced today that the streaming service will be producing an exclusive new slate of original animated series, based on the books from the acclaimed author.
The animated event series, which is due to commence production in 2019, will adapt titles including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, George’s Marvellous Medicine, Boy – Tales of Childhood, Going Solo, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Henry Sugar, Billy and the Minpins, The Magic Finger, Esio Trot, Dirty Beasts, and Rhyme Stew.
Matilda is one of Roald Dahl’s most well-known books (Image Source: Penguin)
Roald’s widow, Felicity Dahl, says the new series will help to share the unique magic and positive message of her late husband’s stories.
“Our mission, which is purposefully lofty, is for as many children as possible around the world to experience the unique magic and positive message of Roald Dahl’s stories,” she says.
“This partnership with Netflix marks a significant move toward making that possible and is an incredibly exciting new chapter for the Roald Dahl Story Company. Roald would, I know, be thrilled.”
The BFG was previously adapted by Disney for a film in 2016 (Image Source: Penguin)
Several of Roald’s books have previously been adapted for the screen, including Matilda, The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and James and the Giant Peach.
Matilda was also adapted in to an award-winning stage musical by writer Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Australia’s own Tim Minchin.
The BFG (2016) and Matilda (1996)
Netflix’s Vice President of Kids & Family content, Melissa Cobb, says the streaming service is ‘honoured’ to continue bringing Roald’s stories to the screen.
“Immersing ourselves in the extraordinary worlds of Roald Dahl stories has been an honor and a massive amount of fun, and we are grateful for the trust the Roald Dahl Story Company and the Dahl family have placed in our team to deliver more moments of shared joy to families around the world,” she says.
“We have great creative ambition to reimagine the journeys of so many treasured Dahl characters in fresh, contemporary ways with the highest quality animation and production values.”
Production is set to commence on the first of the Netflix Dahl animated series in 2019.
