Paramount Television and Anonymous Content Acquire Rights to Hilde Lysiak's Forthcoming Four Book Series HILDE CRACKS THE CASE

Paramount Television and Anonymous Content have optioned the rights to 9 year-old reporter Hilde Lysiak's forthcoming book series "Hilde Cracks the Case" (Scholastic, Fall 2017). Inspired by true news stories that Hilde Lysiak has broken throughout her aspiring career as a journalist, the mystery series stars Hilde along with her older sister Izzy, her sidekick/newspaper photographer, as the two girls stop at nothing to uncover the truth. The deal also includes Lysiak's LIFE STORY rights.

Hilde Lysiak came on the scene as a local reporter in April 2016 when she was the first to report on a murder in her hometown of Selinsgrove, PA, breaking the news in her self-started newspaper, Orange Street News. Described as a real-life Harriet the Spy, Hilde's sleuthing skills have garnered national and international media attention. In the face of negative feedback from online commenters, Lysiak fought back like a champion, taking her story viral, resulting in an appearance on "Good Morning America" and encouragement from the likes of Malala Yousafzai. Today, she joins important voices such as Yousafzai, who she recently interviewed, in an effort to empower youth.

Paramount TV will serve as lead production studio and Anonymous Content's Joy Gorman Wettels and Sharlene Martin of Martin Literary & Media Management are Executive Producing. "Hilde Cracks the Case" is the latest project in the continued partnership between Paramount TV and Anonymous Content, which have a first-look production deal for scripted television programming across broadcast, premium cable, cable and online audiences.

"When we first learned about Hilde and what she was accomplishing at just 9 years old, we knew her stories would make an impact on youth across the country, showing them what they can accomplish if they set their mind towards a goal," said Amy Powell, President, Paramount TV. "One of the best parts of our job is working with young talent and, along with our partners at Anonymous Content, we're excited to create a series based on Hilde's fresh voice and real-life sleuthing."

"I sat behind Hilde and her family at the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards when she was honored and was blown away by this brave little change maker who believes kids should be taken seriously, seek the truth and have a real voice," said Joy Gorman Wettels. "As producers and parents, we aspire to create content that can have a positive impact. With a hero like Hilde and the support of Amy Powell and her team at Paramount, we intend to make a show that kids can be empowered by."

Lysiak's four book series was sold to Scholastic, with the first book to be published in fall 2017. The "Hilde Cracks the Case" series will be part of the Scholastic illustrated early chapter book line Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers (generally ages 5−8). The books will be co-authored by Hilde and her father Matthew Lysiak, who is himself an accomplished journalist.

Paradigm and Del Shaw brokered the Paramount TV deal during a competitive auction on behalf of the Lysiak family and Sharlene Martin. Gorman Wettels pursued the rights since April up against a number of producers.

Previously announced projects from Paramount TV and Anonymous Content include "Thirteen Reasons Why," ordered straight-to-series by Netflix, based on the New York Times bestselling YA book by Jay Asher, directed by Oscar® winner Tom McCarthy and written by Pulitzer Prize® winner Brian Yorkey who will executive produce along with Selena Gomez and McCarthy; "Maniac," a 10-episode, straight-to-series to be directed by Cary Fukunaga starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, ordered by Netflix; "Spoonbenders" based on Daryl Gregory's highly anticipated novel; a series based on New York Times Bestselling book from Rebecca Traister, "All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation;" a series based on Rachel Kushner's National Book Award finalist "Telex from Cuba," adapted by Oscar®-nominated screenwriter Phyllis Nagy (CAROL); a drama series based on Caleb Carr's "The Alienist" from Emmy® Award-winner Cary Fukunaga, Academy Award®-winner Eric Roth and Academy Award® nominee Hossein Amini executive producing; "Berlin Station," a 10-part series shooting in Berlin set to premiere in fall 2016 on Epix; "Legbreakers," an English language version of the hit Swedish drama series "Torpederna," whose pilot will be written by Irvine Welsh; and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: and Other Lessons from the Crematory," adapted and executive produced by "Nurse Jackie" co-creator, Evan Dunsky, based on Caitlin Doughty's New York Times Best-Selling memoir.

Image courtesy of Paramount Television

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