Toronto-headquartered Boat Rocker and Shamier Anderson and Stephan James’ Bay Mills Studios are developing “an R-rated comedic reimagining” of English children’s book writer A.A. Milne’s characters Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh.

The live-action/animation hybrid series Christopher Robin is based on an original script from L.A.-based comedy writer Charlie Kesslering (Most Likely To, Turned On), according to a news release.

He’ll also executive produce alongside U.S. voice actor, director and storyboard artist Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Sausage Party), who is on board to direct the pilot episode.

Other executive producers include Nick Nantell for Boat Rocker, and Playback 2022 Changemakers of the Year Anderson and James for Toronto-based Bay Mills Studios. Holly Hubsher is overseeing the project for Bay Mills Studios.

In Milne’s books, Christopher Robin is a young boy and best friends with bear Winnie-the-Pooh and other animals.

The adaptation finds the eponymous character now “a disillusioned New Yorker navigating his quarter-life crisis with the help of the weird talking animals who live beyond a drug-induced portal outside his derelict apartment complex, the Hundred Acres,” said the release.

“This project takes everything you think you know about Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh and creates something completely fresh and undeniably funny,” said Anderson and James, co-founders, Bay Mills Studios, in a statement.

The project is part of Bay Mills’ first-look deal with Boat Rocker, which aims to tell unique, underrepresented stories. It also includes a limited scripted series about the life of the late New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, which went into development in February 2022.

James also stars in Boat Rocker’s production of Hugh Howey’s sci-fi novel Beacon 23 for Spectrum/AMC, which has been renewed for a second season with Boat Rocker as its international distributor.

Anderson stars in Boat Rocker’s sci-fi drama Invasion for Apple TV+, which recently completed production on its second season.

L-R: Shamier Anderson and Stephan James; photo credit: O’shane Howard and CBC