David Farnor | On 23, Dec 2020

Netflix has optioned the rights to Annie Barrows’ bestselling book series Ivy & Bean.

Ivy and Bean never expected to be friends. Bean is loud, exuberant and fearless. Ivy is quiet, thoughtful and observant. However, sometimes an adventure reveals that opposites can become the best of friends.

Now, the duo are heading to the screen, with Kathy Waugh (Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Molly of Denali) adapting them into family films of one-hour in length. The project hails from by Lionsgate TV backed Kindle Entertainment, with Melanie Stokes and Anne Brogan (The A List, Kiss Me First, Four Kids and It) producing.

Ivy & Bean joins Netflix’s growing slate of live action family films featuring kids and teens, which includes Feel the Beat, directed by Elissa Down (The Honor List) and starring Sofia Carson; WWE’s The Main Event, directed by Jay Karas (Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife) and starring Seth Carr; and 2019 comedy Tall Girl, directed by Nzingha Stewart (Little Fires Everywhere) and starring Ava Michelle.

Naketha Mattocks, Netflix’s Director of Family Features, says: “With a 1-hour run-time, the Ivy & Bean film series will still very much be movies the whole family can enjoy. Safe, fun and elevated comedy-adventures, they also have the wonderful benefit of giving the youngest members of the family an opportunity to see themselves as the star of their own story.”

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