Jacques’ Redwall fantasy series Redwall, about mice, moles, badgers and the like who heroically defend the peaceful Redwall Abbey, is coming to Netflix.
When it comes to children’s books, it doesn’t get much more beloved than Brian Jacques’ Redwall series. Published from 1986 to 2011, the year of Jacques’ death, the 21 Redwall books detail the adventures of the mice, moles, hares and badgers of Redwall Abbey and the surrounding countryside of Mossflower Wood, who must often defend themselves against marauding bands of “vermin” like rats, weasels, and foxes. It’s kind of like The Lord of the Rings if everyone was way cuddlier.
And now, Variety reports that Netflix is turning the series into both a movie — based on the first book in the series, simply titled Redwall — and a TV show, both of them animated. The show will be about the character of Martin the Warrior, a brave mouse and one of the few Redwall characters to get multiple books devoted to him; usually the cast and time period changes from novel to novel.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to announce this deal,” said Ben Horslen, an executive at Penguin Random House Children’s. “These perennially popular stories have been etched onto the hearts of millions of readers, and we are thrilled to partner with Netflix to bring those beloved characters on screen for families worldwide to enjoy.”
There was a Redwall TV series that aired for three seasons starting in the late ’90s, but with Netflix’s reach, the series is probably about to get a lot more exposure. The movie will be written by Patrick McHale, creator of Cartoon Network’s Over the Garden Wall.
There’s no release date yet, but this could be one to watch.
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