Guillaume Ivernel’s ‘The Legendaries’ Reaches a Broad Audience at Unifrance Paris Rendez-Vous for Goodfellas Animation
Goodfellas Animation Secures Global Distribution for The Legendaries
Goodfellas Animation has announced an extensive array of international deals for The Legendaries, directed by Guillaume Ivernel. This news comes as the animated feature makes its premiere at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris on Wednesday.
In Europe, distribution rights for the film have been granted to several companies: Wild Bunch Germany for Germany; The Film Group for Greece; Cinemundo for Portugal; Blitz for the ex-Yugoslavian region; ProFilms for Bulgaria; Bonton Films for the Czech Republic; Garsu Pasaulio Irasai for the Baltics; M2 for Poland; and Paradise for the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Globally, the film has been acquired by Sphere Films in Canada, Film House in Israel, Teleview in the Middle East, Les Films 26 in French-speaking Africa, Creative Century in Taiwan, and Film Bridge in Mongolia.
The Legendaries is based on Patrick Sobral’s popular French comic series Les Légendaires, which has sold approximately nine million copies across France, Benelux, Switzerland, and Canada. The narrative follows five heroes in the medieval kingdom of Alysia, who inadvertently shatter the Stone of Jovenia during a confrontation with the evil sorcerer Darkhell. This incident triggers a lifelong curse, trapping the kingdom’s inhabitants in their childhood bodies. Discredited and blamed for the disaster, the legendary warriors retreat into obscurity until Darkhell resurfaces with a new malevolent plan.
Ivernel’s previous work includes the Chinese-French animated film Spycies, co-directed with Zhiyi Zhang, and Dragon Hunter. For The Legendaries, he collaborates once again with character designer Valérie Hadida, alongside notable team members such as Patrice Garcia, Helene Giraud, and Alfred Frazzani.
The film is produced by France’s Pan Européenne, which holds French distribution rights, alongside Maybe Movies and Belgium’s Belvision. Pan Distribution is set to release the film in France on January 28.
Jason Bressand, head of sales at Goodfellas Animation, oversaw these distribution deals. Goodfellas Animation recently rebranded from Gebeka International and is part of the Paris-based company Goodfellas. Over the past year, the animation sales label has garnered attention with a selection of prominent titles, including Ugo Bienvenu’s Arco and Maïlys Vallade’s Little Amélie, both of which were highlighted at the Cannes Film Festival and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where Arco won the prestigious Cristal Award for best film. Both films are now positioned for potential accolades during the awards season, including Golden Globes and Annies, with nominations for the BAFTA long-list for Best Animated Film set to be announced on January 18.
