Lionsgate acquires rights to the Magic Tree House children’s book series

Advertisement

Advertise with us

VANCOUVER - Lionsgate has acquired the rights to the Magic Tree House book series and is developing multiple live-action films based on the collection of books for children.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/02/2016 (3862 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER – Lionsgate has acquired the rights to the Magic Tree House book series and is developing multiple live-action films based on the collection of books for children.

The entertainment company said Thursday that author Mary Pope Osborne will executive producer along with her husband, Will Osborne.

Financial terms of the agreement were not immediately available.

The 54-volume series follows the adventures of brother and sister Jack and Annie after they discover a mysterious tree house and find a collection of books that transport them through history.

The first project will be based primarily on Book 29 in the series, Christmas in Camelot.

“We’re always looking for magical worlds to expand into potential motion picture franchises and this is an iconic property that is beloved and recognizable around the world,” said Erik Feig, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president.

“The Magic Tree House books have been cherished by generations of readers, including my own children. We’re thrilled to bring the genius of Mary Pope Osborne’s iconic stories to the screen for their tens of millions of fans and to introduce a whole new audience to their magic.”

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Recognizing the value of phys-ed for kids

Jerry Storie 5 minute read Preview

Recognizing the value of phys-ed for kids

Jerry Storie 5 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

The message from Premier Wab Kinew and Education Minister Tracy Schmidt last week about the importance of exercise for young people was timely and important — but it is not new.

Some 2,000 thousand years ago, Plato reportedly said, “In order to succeed in life, a person has two means: education and physical activity. Not separately, one for the soul and the other for the body, but for the two together.”

That was the message being reinforced last week by our provincial leaders.

The decision to focus on looking after our bodies as part of a healthy lifestyle, has seldom been consistently followed in education or in our daily lives. The reintroduction of daily physical education into our schools will only be meaningful if everyone, including our children, their families and schools and health-care professionals take up the challenge of making physical health a priority.

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Preview

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

MOON ALERT: After 3:30 a.m. today there are no restrictions to shopping or making important decisions. The moon is in Taurus.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

This is a poor day to achieve anything of substance at home or in dealing with family members. No matter what you suggest — or even what others proffer — will probably fall flat. Choose another time. In the meantime, just work hard and stay on track.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Village Green Bakery keeps focus on classic quality, kindness, fun in Victoria Beach

Aaron Epp 6 minute read Preview

Village Green Bakery keeps focus on classic quality, kindness, fun in Victoria Beach

Aaron Epp 6 minute read Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

VICTORIA BEACH — They’re not carved into stone tablets — they’re reminders and not commandments, after all — but behind one of the display cases at Village Green Bakery is a laminated sheet of letter-size paper with a list of statements outlining how owner Jen Leslie wants staffers to approach their work.

Fittingly, there’s a baker’s dozen of them.

One is aimed specifically at a stoic teen who’s worked at the bakery since it opened in summer 2022 — “Smile, Brody,” it says — while the other 12 are meant for all 17 employees at the seasonal business, which is open annually from May long weekend until Thanksgiving.

“Smile and enjoy the ride,” is the first reminder, followed by, “The summer is short, so make it a good one,” “always take the high road” and “you are awesome.”

Read
Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

Nightclub owner, divorced dad sentenced for involvement in cocaine-trafficking case

Erik Pindera 4 minute read Preview

Nightclub owner, divorced dad sentenced for involvement in cocaine-trafficking case

Erik Pindera 4 minute read Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026

Three people, including a Winnipeg nightclub owner and a divorced dad desperate for cash, have been sentenced in a cocaine-trafficking case city police were once concerned had been compromised by a corrupt cop.

The trio was charged in early 2024 as part of Project Roasted, a lengthy investigation into a drug trafficking network by the Winnipeg Police Service organized crime unit.

Investigators arrested two of the men, Mohamed Ali and Abdullah Khan, as they left the Stella’s on Pembina Highway in early February 2024. Two kilograms of cocaine was found in Khan’s car.

On the same day, Ahmed Dini was arrested at his River Avenue suite, where investigators found more than 200 rocks of crack cocaine.

Read
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026

Times of transition can be tough to traverse

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My wife has really enjoyed staying home with the kids all summer, as she is a teacher and has the two months off. Last night she was tearful at bedtime because she has to go back to the classroom and “this perfect summer together is all over.”

I told her I could afford to look after us financially if she ever wanted to quit teaching and stay home, and she blew up and said, “I love to teach and our kids won’t at be home. They’ll all be at school.” Then the tears really came. Sometimes I just can’t win. What’s up with her? Please advise.

— Willing to Help, Winnipeg

Dear Willing: The same thing that’s happened to your wife, you often see with kids at this time of year — over-excitement. It’s hard on everybody when there’s too much new stuff going on and the daily schedule is totally changing from summertime.

Former abuser of alcohol, drugs who graduated from recovery program now helping others

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Preview

Former abuser of alcohol, drugs who graduated from recovery program now helping others

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:05 AM CDT

The second time Ray Ducharme overdosed, he was in a Winnipeg hotel room, waiting for a spot in Adult and Teen Challenge Central Canada’s live-in recovery program.

It was Oct. 30, 2024 — not long after his first overdose had landed him in a Red Deer, Alta., hospital for eight days. Ducharme had gone west, trying to outrun the baggage he carried in Winnipeg, before eventually returning home at the behest of an ATCCC employee who assured him there would be a bed available in seven to 10 days.

Then came the second OD.

Three days later, in early November, Ducharme woke up in a Winnipeg hospital with his family around him. Doctors weren’t sure he’d survive.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 9:05 AM CDT