'Eloise' Skipping to ABC with Two Kid-Friendly Pics
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -- Eloise, the garrulous little girl who lives in New York's Plaza Hotel, is headed to the screen for the first time. ABC is close to greenlighting two movies based on Kay Thompson's classic series of books to be executive produced by Denise Di Novi and Patrick Meehan, chairman of Hand-made Films. "Eloise at the Plaza," written by Janet Brownell (ABC's "Gilda Radner: It's Always Something"), is being eyed for a May premiere, while "Eloise at Christmastime," penned by Elizabeth Chandler (HBO's "After-burn"), is planned to air around Christmas 2003. The two films, which will run as part of ABC's "Wonderful World of Disney" banner, will be shot back-to-back as a miniseries. Discussions are under way to film some scenes at the Plaza. The network hopes to build a strong "Eloise" franchise. Immediately after giving the green light to "Eloise at the Plaza" and "Eloise at Christmastime," ABC is expected to start developing a third film, likely based on "Eloise in Paris." Because author Thompson was dead set against adapting her books, the rights did not become available until after her death. In 1999, the Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co. won a heated bidding war to acquire film, television and allied rights to the children's series for an estimated $3 million-$4 million. Di Novi pacted with Itsy Bitsy to develop an "Eloise" feature and later approached ABC with the idea for TV movies. Meanwhile, Meehan acquired the "Eloise" rights after Itsy Bitsy was sold. "I think Eloise is one of those one in a million characters that is completely unique in who she is -- she is a lovable scamp and a big-hearted person, and I think she has appeal for adults and children and for boys and girls," Di Novi said.
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -- Eloise, the garrulous little girl who lives in New York's Plaza Hotel, is headed to the screen for the first time. ABC is close to greenlighting two movies based on Kay Thompson's classic series of books to be executive produced by Denise Di Novi and Patrick Meehan, chairman of Hand-made Films. "Eloise at the Plaza," written by Janet Brownell (ABC's "Gilda Radner: It's Always Something"), is being eyed for a May premiere, while "Eloise at Christmastime," penned by Elizabeth Chandler (HBO's "After-burn"), is planned to air around Christmas 2003. The two films, which will run as part of ABC's "Wonderful World of Disney" banner, will be shot back-to-back as a miniseries. Discussions are under way to film some scenes at the Plaza. The network hopes to build a strong "Eloise" franchise. Immediately after giving the green light to "Eloise at the Plaza" and "Eloise at Christmastime," ABC is expected to start developing a third film, likely based on "Eloise in Paris." Because author Thompson was dead set against adapting her books, the rights did not become available until after her death. In 1999, the Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co. won a heated bidding war to acquire film, television and allied rights to the children's series for an estimated $3 million-$4 million. Di Novi pacted with Itsy Bitsy to develop an "Eloise" feature and later approached ABC with the idea for TV movies. Meanwhile, Meehan acquired the "Eloise" rights after Itsy Bitsy was sold. "I think Eloise is one of those one in a million characters that is completely unique in who she is -- she is a lovable scamp and a big-hearted person, and I think she has appeal for adults and children and for boys and girls," Di Novi said.