‘Paddington’ filmmakers set to adapt Mr Men and Little Miss series
The filmmakers behind the hit Paddington series have set their sights on a new animated endeavour. They will embark on a feature film adaptation of the Mr Men and Little Miss series of illustrated children’s books.
Heydey Films will join with the UK arm of French company StudioCanal to make the film. David Heyman is the mastermind behind Heydey Films, which has produced Paddington and Paddington 2, as well as the Harry Potter series, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and White Noise.
Heyman shared his love for the books in an official statement, stating that they “offer an irresistible opportunity for a bold and imaginative feature film adaptation.”
The series was first published in 1971. They were written and illustrated by Roger Hargreaves, who passed away in 1988. Eventually, the series was restarted by his son, Adam, in 2003.
Originally, Roger Hargreaves created 39 Mr Men. He added the Little Miss characters a decade later, in 1981. A screen adaptation first brought the characters to life off the page in 1974 on BBC 1. Following this, a Little Miss series, featuring Pauline Collins, was then broadcast in 1983.
The character rights were sold to Chorion in 2004, and in 2008, a new series was broadcast on Channel 5 in the UK and on Cartoon Network in the US. With interest in the doodle-like characters still rife, Hello Kitty owners Sanrio bought the brand in 2011.
This update comes during a great year for animated projects. Earlier this year, K-pop Demon Hunters became the most-viewed movie of all time on Netflix, while songs from the soundtrack enjoyed unprecedented global success.
In 2025, animation has been used as a vehicle for satire, too. The Comedy Central series, South Park, has taken plenty of aim at Donald Trump and his administration, and has enjoyed its biggest viewership numbers ever.
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