Netflix has announced the cast and filmmaking team for its upcoming family friendly movie series “Ivy and Bean.”
Elissa Down is directing the live-action films, based on the best-selling children’s book series. Down has previously worked with the streaming platform on the musical comedy “Feel the Beat” and the drama “The Honor List.”
Young actors Keslee Blalock and Madison Skye Validum will play Ivy and Bean, respectively, while Lidya Jewett is portraying a character named Nancy. Blalock has previously appeared in “Family Camp” and “Pulled From Darkness.” Jewett’s screen credits include “Good Girls,” “Feel the Beat” and “Nightbooks.”
“Ivy and Bean” centers on two girls who never expected to be friends. However, the quiet and thoughtful Ivy and the playful and fearless Bean soon discover that seemingly different people can become the best of pals. The series, written Barrows and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, has 12 books in total.
Screenwriters Kathy Waugh (“Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer” and “Molly of Denali”) and Jeff Stockwell (“Bridge to Terabithia” and “A Wrinkle in Time”) are writing the movies, which will each run at one hour and will be catered toward families with young kids.
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Kindle Entertainment, which is backed by Lionsgate TV, is producing the series. Melanie Stokes and Anne Brogan, whose credits include “The A List,” “Kiss Me First” and “Four Kids and It,” will also serve as producers.
Validum is represented by Alicia Beekman and Laura Thede at DDO Artists Agency. Blalock is repped by MC Talent Management, Coast to Coast and Sloan P. Whiteside. Down is repped by Verve and attorney Eric Feig.
