“Spellbound”: CBC advises “Find Me In Paris” sequel

EXCLUSIVE: CBC/Radio-Canada is on board with the upcoming show bewitcheda live action between drama from the team behind it Find me in Paris.

The Canadian National Network has acquired the local rights to the show from Federation Kids & Family and ZDF Studios, which jointly distribute worldwide.

Hulu, Germany’s ZDF and France Télévisions are already attached as co-production partners, with federally owned Cottonwood Media producing in association with Opéra National de Paris and ZDF Studios. The same partners, with the exception of France Télévisions, collaborated on the children’s science fiction drama Find me in Paris between 2018 and 2020.

Filming on the 26 part bewitched, budgeted at 15.3 million euros ($16.6 million), is expected to be released later this year. CBC’s English-language streamer CBC Gem will launch it later this year before French-language service ICI TOU.TV will carry it during its 2023/24 broadcast season.

The show follows Cece Parker Jones (Hailey Romain), a vivacious teenager who moves from a small town in the United States to Paris to study at the Paris Opera Ballet School. But things are turned upside down when she discovers a book of family history in the back room of her Aunt Ginger’s pharmacy and unknowingly summons her nemesis.

The cast also includes Margherita Barbieri, Abigail O’Regan, Etienne Moana, Sam Darius, Zac Gabriel Werb, Raven Dauda (The Umbrella Academy, Star Trek: Discovery), Malou Beauvoir (perception), Rick Young (Beowolf, find me in Paris), Cameron James King (Tuesday, Is dark material), Gomolemo Tsagae, Imogen Mackie Walker and Charles Baker.

The show is by Jill Girling and Lori Mather, who also created Find me in Paris. Executive producer Renaud Mathieu and one of the directors, Robert Burke, also worked on the previous show. Alexander Jacob (Theodora, holm oak) is the lead director of the series, with Anne Bradley serving as co-director. Zoe Carrera Allaix, Cecile Lauritano and David Michel of Cottonwood.

“The CBC Kids team is excited bewitched come alive,” said Marie McCann, senior director, children’s content, CBC. “The dancers are raving about the beautiful production and we think children will really enjoy this fun and fresh take on magic.”

Simon Dupuis, senior director, acquisitions and specialty channels, Radio-Canada added: “Cottonwood Media has built an enviable reputation for producing the major international teen drama hit Find me in Paris. We believe that children are attracted bewitched as much as we read the field. It has all the ingredients to be a success again.”

“We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with CBC/Radio-Canada as we continue to grow international distribution over the coming months,” said Monica Levy, Associate Head of Distribution, Federation Kids & Family. “In light of this particular deal, it’s also an added bonus that our lead actress, Hailey Romain, is Canadian herself.”

Cottonwood co-founders – David Michel, Cécile Lauritano and Zoé Carrera Allaix – added: “We are working with some amazing broadcast partners on this big budget series and we always look forward to something ‘special’ like this by looking for new international talent for our productions to find the right people to bring our characters to life, while honing their skills – and we’re confident that some of these amazing new actors will soon be joining viewers when they lock.