Toronto, Canada-based indie producer and distributor Shaftesbury has joined forces with actor, writer and producer Laura Vandervoort (Bitten, Smallville) on Super Duper Deelia, a brand new half-hour live-action series aimed at girls six  to 12.

Currently in early development for television, the series follows the adventures of a plucky young girl who discovers she has superpowers on her 10th birthday and that super abilities run in her family.

While learning to use her new skills in positive ways, Deelia turns to her wise grandmother, a super woman herself, for advice and gets help from her inner circle of friends and her lovable canine sidekick Shadow, who has the ability to talk.

The series is produced by Shaftesbury, in association with Heroic Television’s John May and Suzanne Bolch (How to be Indie, Connor Undercover), who will also executive produce along with creator Vandervoort and Shaftesbury chairman and CEO Christina Jennings.

Toronto-bred Vandervoort, who launched her career in popular live-action series Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, says she first intended the concept to be a children’s book series, but after shopping the idea around, she determined it would work well as a live-action TV series.

Her inspiration for Super Duper Deelia came from the fact that there aren’t many good, strong role models for little girls who are into superheroes.

“I was a tomboy and martial arts enthusiast growing up and there weren’t a lot of TV shows that spoke to girls like me,” says Vandervoort.

“With Super Duper Deelia, I set out to create a unique character that uses her mind and embraces her individuality as a strong female decision maker. But the show will also appeal to young boys too especially through the help and experience of John May.”

Shaftesbury is taking the new series to MIP Jr. and MIPCOM.

From Kidscreen