Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe Join 'KENSUKE'S KINGDOM'

Deadline reports Sally Hawkins (The Shape Of Water), Cillian Murphy (Inception), Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai) and Raffey Cassidy (The Killing Of A Sacred Deer) are will voice characters in an animated adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom.

The children's book tells the story of Michael, who is taken by his family on a round-the-world sailing trip. When a storm strikes he is washed overboard and ends up on a remote island in the Pacific where he struggles to survive on his own. He soon realizes there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive.

Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry will direct the adventure story with a script from Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Bankside is handling sales at the EFM and has previously closed pre-sales in France (Le Pacte), China (DDDreams), Switzerland (Praesens) and Middle East (Front Row Entertainment).

The films producers include Sarah Radclyffe and Lupus Films duo Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding, Barnaby Spurrier, and Stephan Roelants.

Bill Godfrey, Courtney Pledger and Tim Morris are executive producing. Anna Webster is associate producing with co-producers Jigsaw Films, Lupus Films, Melusine Productions and Brennus Productions. The film is a co-production between the UK, Luxembourg and Ireland. Development has been supported by the BFI, Film Fund Luxembourg and Ffilm Cymru Wales.

Read the original story on Deadline.

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