Mo Willems Launches Production Company to Leverage IP From Best-Selling Children’s Books

thewrap.com:

Mo Willems is stepping further into the multimedia entertainment world. The globally best-selling and award-winning children’s book author will team with Stampede Ventures and RedBird Capital to form Hidden Pigeon Company.

HPC will be a multiplatform kids and family content company which will use Willems’ catalog of books and IP for film, television, digital media, gaming, live events, location-based experiences, publishing, merchandising and more.“The Hidden Pigeon Company takes its name from how kids and former kids delight in finding The Pigeon hidden in every one of my books,” Willems said. “It is my hope to create a similar bit of surprise and delight in the fabric of everything we make or do.

I am thrilled to have found wonderful collaborative partners to make that hope a reality.”This follows Willems’ existing producing partnership with Stampede Ventures, including two HBO Max specials “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience” and “Storytime All-Stars Presents: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime.” The latter was nominated for two daytime Emmys.HPC will be led by CEO Kathy Franklin, who joins HPC from Lightstorm Entertainment, for which she served as president of franchise development for nearly 12 years.HPC will also house a new publishing imprint called Specific House, which has partnered with publisher Union Square & Co.

to launch Willems’ adult humor book, “Be the Bus – The Lost & Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon” and “The Pigeon Will Ride the Rollercoaster!” The upcoming “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!” will be The Pigeon’s first-ever holiday book.Willems is repped by his long-term literary agent, Marcia Wernick at Wernick & Pratt Agency, LLC.“We’ve deeply enjoyed the success of our.