‘Wings To Fly’: Jarnell Stokes Partners With Former ‘Simpsons’ EP Jay Fukuto On Animated Feature Adaptation Of His Children’s Book

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EXCLUSIVE: Pro basketball player Jarnell Stokes is partnering with veteran animation exec and producer Jay Fukuto (The Simpsons, King of the Hill) to co-write and produce Wings to Fly, an animated feature based on his sports-themed children’s book of the same name.The book published by Creation Nation Animation in April of 2020 is a redemption tale about a brilliant, but self-centered rising basketball star who is prematurely killed, only to discover his higher spiritual purpose helping a young girl.

At a crossroad between a virtuous life and a path to crime, Louisa meets her guardian angel, Jerrold, who teaches her the game of life through basketball, learning that success comes with perseverance.The book co-written by Stokes and Howard Flamm and illustrated by Eunsoo Jeong was also recently picked up for publication by Mascot Books.

Dea Shandera-Hunter will exec produce, with pro-athlete career company Unique Sports Management on board to help bring additional sports talent onto the project.“One of the most important projects I have had the pleasure of working on is the animated Wings to Fly motion picture,” said Fukuto. “In our chaotic and stressful times, there is a real need for stories such as ours, ones which reflect hope, faith, friendship, and strong values.

On top of this, I am privileged to be part of a team that includes two exceptional and talented partners, Jarnell Stokes and Dea Shandera-Hunter.”Stokes is an Olympic Gold medalist and former NBA player who currently plays for the Chinese Basketball Association’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers, and has recently begun producing films through his Stoked Film Group banner including the horror-comedy Slayers, starring Abigail Breslin, Thomas Jane and Malin Akerman; the