Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company Outbid Rivals for Adaptation of ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’
Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have emerged victorious in a competitive bidding war for the rights to adapt the beloved holiday classic, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The successful acquisition was announced recently, with the film set to be based on the popular book by Barbara Robinson. The adaptation will be written and directed by Dallas Jenkins, renowned for his work as the creator, director, and producer of the hit series The Chosen.
Since its publication in 1972, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has captivated readers around the world, selling over seven million copies. The heartwarming story revolves around the unruly Herdmans, widely regarded as the most troublesome children in history. However, when fate leads them to take charge of their town’s Christmas pageant, their unique interpretation unwittingly imparts the true meaning of the holiday season to the community.
The production will be a collaborative effort between Kingdom Story’s Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin, and Jon Erwin, along with McDaniel and Thomas. Jenkins will serve as an executive producer alongside Molen, Mark Kendell, and Tony Young. Principal photography is scheduled to commence next month in Canada, with the film aiming for a theatrical debut during the 2024 holiday season.
In an accompanying video, Jenkins expressed his excitement and described this opportunity as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. He expressed his gratitude for collaborating with Lionsgate and Kingdom, known for their commitment to supporting filmmakers while delivering exceptional movies.
Kingdom Story Company, whose recent release Jesus Revolution, generated an impressive $54 million worldwide against a $15 million budget, has an exciting lineup of projects forthcoming. Their upcoming collaboration with Lionsgate, No Ordinary Angels, features esteemed actresses Hillary Swank, a two-time Oscar winner, and Alan Ritchson, known for his role in the Reacher series. Scheduled for a theatrical release on February 23, 2024, No Ordinary Angels is expected to make a significant impact. Following that, Unsung Hero, starring King + Country’s Joel Smallbone and Daisy Betts, is slated to hit theaters on April 26, 2024.
Lionsgate, which acquired global television distribution rights for The Chosen earlier this year, has already secured licensing deals with Peacock, CW, and Amazon. The groundbreaking series has consistently ranked among the top ten on Amazon since the launch of its third season and is eagerly anticipated to debut its fourth season in February.
Reflecting on the success of Jesus Revolution, Downes from Kingdom Story expressed enthusiasm about continuing their fruitful partnership with Lionsgate in bringing inspiring and trusted content to audiences. With the upcoming releases of Ordinary Angels and Unsung Hero at the beginning of the year, Downes added that collaborating with Dallas Jenkins on The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will round out the year with a heartwarming holiday film destined to become a cherished family favorite.
Lionsgate’s President of Production, Erin Westerman, applauded Jenkins’ passion and vision for the project, referring to it as infectious. To demonstrate their shared commitment to the film, Lionsgate transformed their restaurant into a dazzling holiday wonderland for Jenkins. Westerman expressed confidence in Jenkins’ ability to deliver a holiday classic that will entertain audiences of all ages during the next holiday season.
Overseeing the project for Lionsgate are Chelsea Kujawa and Jon Humphrey, while the studio’s deal was negotiated by Phil Strina. Jenkins is represented by attorney Ken Meyer and UTA.
With this exciting collaboration between Lionsgate, Kingdom Story Company, and the talented Dallas Jenkins at the helm, fans of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever can eagerly anticipate a heartwarming and unforgettable cinematic experience that will transport them into the true spirit of the holiday season.
