Bold move: a Mr. Men Little Miss feature film is being developed by the same powerhouse team behind Paddington. Studiocanal and Heyday Films are joining forces again to bring Roger Hargreaves’s beloved characters to the big screen for the first time, aiming to capture both children and adult fans worldwide. Mister Men Limited, a Sanrio Group company, has been brought on board to help expand the universe and broaden its appeal beyond books into fashion, health and beauty, toys, and more.
The Mr. Men and Little Miss books, which began with Mr. Men in 1971 and expanded with Little Miss in 1981, have sold over 250 million copies. Each character is defined by a single, recognizable trait—such as Mr. Happy’s optimism or Little Miss Helpful’s eagerness to assist—making them instantly iconic across generations. The franchise already enjoys strong market presence as France’s top-selling children’s book series and a leading preschool brand in the UK. Since Sanrio acquired the IP in 2011, the property has grown into a broader entertainment and product ecosystem, now featuring more than 90 characters and collaborations that reflect various cultures and regions, including the UK, France, Australia, and Asia.
The film project builds on an existing Mr. Men Little Miss animated series streaming on YouTube and a second series in production for television. Like Paddington, the movie intends to blend humor, warmth, and the distinct personalities of the characters while attracting new audiences worldwide.
Reacting to the announcement, Adam Hargreaves, Roger Hargreaves’s son, expressed excitement about the big-screen adaptation, noting that his father would have been thrilled to see the characters on the cinema screen. Heyday Films’ David Heyman, who also produced the Harry Potter series and Barbie, emphasized the opportunity to craft a bold and imaginative feature from this globally cherished property. He joined Studiocanal and Sanrio in highlighting the potential to enchant audiences of all ages.
Anna Marsh, Studiocanal’s CEO, Canal+’s COO and deputy CEO, conveyed enthusiasm about collaborating with Heyday and Sanrio to bring the iconic characters to life on the big screen for the first time. Tomokuni Tsuji, Sanrio’s president and CEO, underscored the desire to share Mr. Men Little Miss with audiences worldwide through a film that embodies joy and accessibility. Sanrio’s leadership praised Studiocanal and Heyday’s creative track record and described the project as a strategic extension of Sanrio’s IP platform, aimed at delivering next-generation happiness on a global scale.
Studiocanal and Heyday Films boast a strong pedigree in premium family entertainment. The Paddington projects—three Emmy-winning streaming series and three successful feature films—have cemented their reputation, with Paddington in Peru released in 2024. The Paddington musical is currently running in London’s West End, in collaboration with Studiocanal, and there are discussions about a Paddington animated feature and a continuation of the film franchise.
Executive oversight for the Mr. Men Little Miss project will come from Studiocanal’s Ron Halpern (EVP of Global Production) and Joe Naftalin (SVP of Global Production and UK head of film production).
