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It’s Christmas in October for New Regency and Walden Media.
The two companies have partnered up to develop, finance and produce a musical family film titled Santa Is Real.
Stephen Chbosky, who directed critical darling The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is on board to helm the project, which will be written by Larry Stuckey (Little Fockers).
Based on an upcoming book by Charles E. Hall and Bret Witter titled Santa Claus Is for Real: A True Christmas Fable About the Magic of Believing, the feature project will tell the true story of Hall, the man who plays Santa in Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular.
According to the producers, Hall was a struggling actor looking to save his career when he took the job, but the role ended up saving his life. The show’s success also rescued Radio City, and for the last 27 years Santa and his Christmas magic have continued to inspire everyone to believe, according to new Regency and Walden.
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Stacey Sher and Alexandra Milchan are producing the film alongside Walden Media.
The book will hit shelves Oct. 14.
Walden Media’s vp development and production, Naia Cucukov, will oversee the project on behalf of Walden.
New Regency is the company behind David Fincher’s Gone Girl and the upcoming awards season contender Birdman, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu. It is currently in production on Iñárritu’s The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy.
Walden most recently produced The Giver.
Chbosky is repped by WME and the Hansen Firm.
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