Maverick Arts Publishing moves into TV with launch of coproduction studio

Kids’ book publisher Maverick Arts Publishing is launching its own TV production company called Maverick Pictures Ltd.

Steve Bicknell

Acting as a coproduction studio, Maverick Pictures will focus on developing selected Maverick books for potential film and television, expanding the reach of its stories to new family audiences.

The new company launches in collaboration with writer and actor Luke Bailey of A New Road Productions. Bailey is a producer on the forthcoming independent feature film The Lost Farm, directed by Ben Mole.

The fledgling company’s first project is an adaptation of Dragon Girl, which is currently in development for a 6×22’ live-action TV fantasy series aimed at 10- to 13-year-olds.

Jenny Moore’s Dragon Girl fantasy series will be published in the UK by Maverick and in the US and Canada by Sourcebooks on March 5.

Steve Bicknell, who launched Maverick Arts Publishing in 2009 and has since grown the company to more than 500 titles, will serve as managing director of Maverick Pictures.

He said: “We look forward to bringing Maverick’s books to life for the screen and are excited to be collaborating with Luke Bailey and his team, whose industry experience will be invaluable as we develop our upcoming live-action Dragon Girl, based on the fantasy children’s books written by Jenny Moore.”

Bailey added: “Stories about identity, courage and resilience are why we created A New Road Productions, so we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside Maverick in bringing the magic and ferocity of Dragon Girl to life.”