Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy Join Family Film ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’

Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy have joined the cast of magical family adventure feature “The Magic Faraway Tree,” based on Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s classic.

The film — from Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group and Ashland Hill Media Finance — has been adapted by BAFTA winner Simon Farnaby (“Wonka” and “Paddington 2”) and will be directed by Ben Gregor (“Britannia,” “Cuckoo”). Palisades Park Pictures are handling sales in Cannes. Principal photography will begin in June, with additional casting currently underway. 

Based on “The Faraway Tree” series of novels for children, “The Magic Faraway Tree” follows Polly (Foy) and Tim (Garfield) and their children Beth, Joe and Fran — a modern family who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. Soon after the family’s arrival in the countryside, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents including treasured characters Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot and Saucepan Man. At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular and fantastical lands and, through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learn to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.

“To have two actors of the quality of Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy is a dream for any screenwriter,” Farnaby said. “I have long admired their warmth, wit and lightness of touch. Plus they have the power to imbue their characters’ complexities that I don’t have the power to write… I mean, even Enid Blyton might be impressed we got Spider-Man and the Queen.”

Added Gregor: “Andrew and Claire are exquisite performers and I feel so spoiled to have them for this film. They are the cornerstones of our big hearted world and the perfect people to bring our lovely script to life.”

Ashland Hill Media Finance is fully financing “The Magic Faraway Tree.” Palisades Park Pictures is handling worldwide sales, with CAA Media Finance co-repping US rights, and will bring the film to the Cannes Film Festival this month.

The film is produced by Oscar nominee Pippa Harris (“Empire of Light,” “1917”) and Nicolas Brown (“Britannia,” “Penny Dreadful”) of Neal Street Productions, along with Danny Perkins (“Greatest Days”) of Elysian Film Group, and Jane Hooks (“Golda”, “Living”). Executive producers include Ashland Hill Media Finance’s Simon Williams, Joe Simpson and Jonathan Bross and Palisades Park Pictures’ Tamara Birkemoe.

The film has been in development for several years, with Perkins, Harris and Brown working on the film when Perkins was running Studiocanal U.K.

Foy is represented by Independent Talent Group, UTA and Tapestry. Garfield is represented by Gordon & French, CAA, ID and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Gregor is represented by Curtis Brown Group and WME. Farnaby is represented by Independent Talent Group and UTA.