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Kirk Jones to Write and Direct Live-Action Mr Benn Film

The move gives the 1971 BBC favorite its first clear timeline toward a 2027 shoot.

Overview

  • The project, which was announced Tuesday, sets casting to begin later in 2026 ahead of production in 2027.
  • BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Kirk Jones, fresh off I Swear, will write, direct and also produce through his banner One Story High.
  • Producers include Branwen Prestwood Smith and Mike Prestwood Smith for 48 Films, David Barron for BeaglePug Ltd, and Jack Whitehall for Jackpot Productions.
  • The McKee family, heirs to creator David McKee who died in 2022, publicly backed the film and said they are excited to return to Festive Road.
  • The feature adapts the 13-episode 1971 BBC series about a man who enters a costume shop and steps into matching worlds, after a reported 1999 film effort with John Hannah and Ben Kingsley stalled.