“The Blind Side” producer Alcon Entertainment is cooking up “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” acquiring film and TV rights to the inspirational brand of books.
The banner plans to finance and produce a feature film with “Chicken Soup for the Soul” in the title. The movie will be produced by Kerner Entertainment Cos. with topper Jordan Kerner (“Smurfs 1 and 2″) along with Alcon toppers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove. Kerner’s Ben Haber will executive produce, along with Chicken Soup for the Soul CEO Bill Rouhana and Tim Rouhana. Kate Moulene is co-producer.
Brandon Camp (“Love Happens”) will write the screenplay, inspired by characters and stories from the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series. Warner Bros. will release the film through Alcon’s output deal.
The brand was created by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen in 1993. The series of feel-good tales has sold more than 100 million books to date in the U.S. and Canada, with almost 250 titles in print and translations into more than 40 languages.
“On the 20th anniversary of our first book, I’m delighted to go back to my roots by adding movies and television to the variety of servings that ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ offers,” Bill Rouhana said. “Our fans and readers trust us as their source for positive and moving stories and they’re hungry for more.”
Alcon is in pre-production on a “Dolphin Tales” sequel and its “Prisoners” drama, starring Hugh Jackman, will open next month. Kerner’s credits include “Charlotte’s Web.”
