The series is a Studiocanal, Heyday Films & Submarine (a Mediawan company) production, in partnership with The Astrid Lindgren Company.
Studiocanal today announces the TV development of Pippi Longstocking in partnership with The Astrid Lindgren Company.
The Studiocanal, Heyday Films and Submarine production is written for television by multi-award-winning head writer and screenwriter Sara Daddy (The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland, Olga Da Polga, Tulipop Tales).
Studiocanal is handling worldwide distribution for the 52×11 3D CGI animation with production set for October 2026. Studiocanal Kids & Family will handle merchandising and licensing in France and the UK.
In partnership with The Astrid Lindgren Company Studiocanal, Heyday Films and Submarine are developing a fresh, modern reboot bringing Astrid Lindgren’s fearless, funny and free-spirited hero in all her red-headed glory to television.
Produced by David Heyman, Rosie Alison and Rob Silva of Heyday Films (Three series of the Emmy & Annie award winning The Adventures Of Paddington, feature films Paddington 1, Paddington 2 and Paddington In Peru with Paddington 4 currently in development), Simon Quinn and Karen Davidsen (Three series of the Emmy & Annie award winning The Adventures Of Paddington). Ron Halpern is overseeing for Studiocanal.
Testament to Pippi Longstocking’s enduring and timeless global appeal, Lindgren’s iconic books have sold over 90 million copies translated into 80 languages worldwide and continue to sell 1.5 million annually. Pippi Longstocking celebrated her 80th anniversary in 2025.
Red haired Pippi Longstocking is the main character in the eponymous series of children’s books by celebrated Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. She originated from bedtime stories told to her daughter Karin about an anything but pious freckled little girl with boundless energy, strength and bravery.
Head Writer Sara Daddy comments: “To be entrusted by the Lindgren family and the brilliant Heyday and Studiocanal teams with the keys to Villa Villekulla is such a privilege. As the daughter of a seaman who overturned convention and took me out of school to sail around the world, I have always felt a connection with Pippi. I am having so much fun honouring her fiercely independent spirit, free-thinking ways and of course, superhuman strength. With the brilliant wit and warmth of Astrid Lindgren’s voice as our guide, our aim is to ensure Pippi remains a joyful, empowering icon for today’s children. It is a dream project.”
The Astrid Lindgren Company, Max Hallén, CEO: “Astrid Lindgren’s stories continue to grow their audience around the world, reaching new generations of children across markets, platforms and formats. Pippi Longstocking remains at the heart of that journey. Her courage, independence and playful way of challenging the world around her have inspired children around the world for over eighty years and continue to do so today. This series represents an important milestone in our ambition to expand the reach of Astrid Lindgren’s stories and create new opportunities for children everywhere to discover Pippi.”
Heyday Films (David Heyman, Rosie Alison, Rob Silva) add: “Pippi Longstocking is a beloved icon, with her uniquely unpredictable way of seeing the world. Joyful, free-spirited, playful, contrary, kind, fiercely resilient, she questions all the rules of the game, and her originality remains as fresh as ever. We could not be more excited about unleashing Pippi once again in her own new animated series, collaborating with a kindred spirit writer Sara Daddy, the brilliantly inventive animating team at Submarine, the Astrid Lindgren Company, and StudioCanal.”
Anna Marsh CEO of Studiocanal, Chief Content Officer of Canal+ expands: “We are thrilled to collaborate with The Astrid Lingren Company, Heyday Films and Submarine on the brilliant, timeless, fearless and unmistakable Pippi Longstocking. Sara Daddy truly encompasses Pippi’s irrepressible life force, iconic strength of character, boundless imagination and joie de vivre. An inspiration to so many people around the world Pippi is a beloved literary icon and we are determined to honour Astrid Lindgren’s legacy – and Pippi herself – with our ambitious new animated series.”
Bruno Felix, Managing Director of Submarine, concludes: “We are honoured and delighted to be working with Heyday Films, the Lindgren family and Studiocanal on a fresh new incarnation of Pippi Longstocking – one that remains true to Astrid Lindgren’s beloved books while speaking to a new generation. To be entrusted with bringing Pippi to life in animation is both a privilege and a responsibility, and one we are incredibly excited to take on. Pippi has long held a special place in my heart: I watched her on television every weekend as a child, and later shared Astrid Lindgren’s stories with my own children. That enduring connection makes the opportunity to be part of this new chapter especially meaningful.”
When a young girl with mismatched stockings, carrot coloured hair and freckles arrives in a small town, with a monkey on her shoulder, a huge travel bag full of gold coins and carrying a horse, life for Tommy and Annika, and the residents, will never be the same again.
