Table of Contents
The international sales landscape has welcomed a fresh family title: Global Constellation has formally onboarded the upcoming live-action feature Emil and the Detectives for worldwide representation. This project adapts Erich Kästner’s seminal 1929 novel, a work that has been translated into more than 60 languages and which remains central to classic children’s literature. Written by Antonia Scheurlen and directed by David Dietl, the film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for a theatrical rollout across German-speaking territories via Warner Bros. Pictures next fall. The decision to assign international sales to Global Constellation positions the film for broad market exposure ahead of its regional release.
What the film offers and its creative team
The adaptation updates Kästner’s plot for contemporary audiences while retaining the core themes of camaraderie and resourcefulness. The narrative centers on young Emil, whose funds meant for his grandmother are stolen on a train to Berlin; instead of accepting defeat, Emil assembles a band of intrepid peers to pursue the thief, decode clues across the city, and uncover lessons about bravery and solidarity. At the helm, director David Dietl pairs with screenwriter Antonia Scheurlen to shape a fresh cinematic voice for this familiar story. The production credits list UFA Fiction, Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany and UFA Mitte as co-producers, with Sebastian Werninger, Tobias Timme and Katharina Rietz serving as lead producers.
Financial backing and production partners
Production financing for the film draws on multiple German film funds and government support bodies. Backers include Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB), Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM), FilmFernsehFonds Bayern (FFFB), Filmförderanstalt (FFA), Deutscher Filmförderfonds (DFFF) and the Bayerische Staatskanzlei. Co-production and co-producing credits feature Steffen Schier, Julia Hayungs and Maggie Mackuth, reflecting a collaborative European approach to financing and producing family entertainment. This multi-source funding model underscores the film’s cultural and commercial ambition, enabling a production scale suitable for both local theatrical release and international sales efforts led by Global Constellation.
Legacy and previous adaptations
Erich Kästner’s 1929 novel has a long adaptation history, and the new film continues that lineage. The book has been filmed on several occasions since the 1930s, with the most recent screen version appearing in 2001. The story has also seen stage treatment: notably, Carl Miller’s stage adaptation opened on the main Olivier stage at London’s National Theatre in 2013. These prior iterations have preserved the tale’s adaptability across formats and eras, and the current remake aims to blend nostalgic appeal with contemporary sensibilities—leveraging the novel’s established reputation as a touchstone of European children’s storytelling.
Producer perspectives and studio strategy
Producer Sebastian Werninger of UFA Fiction commented on the creative challenge and cultural resonance of revisiting Kästner’s work: reimagining the story for today’s youth meant highlighting universal values such as friendship, courage and self-empowerment. In parallel, representatives from Global Constellation—Ulrike Schroeder and Fabien Westerhoff—expressed enthusiasm about deepening their long-term collaboration with UFA, emphasizing their intent to present Emil’s resourcefulness and spirit to family audiences worldwide. Their statement framed the assignment of international sales as an opportunity to introduce a new generation to Emil’s wit and adventurous heart.
Where this sits in global constellation’s slate
For Global Constellation, the film strengthens a growing roster of family-oriented projects. It follows the company’s recent additions such as the CG-animated feature Dragoons by Shea Wageman, and comes as the sales outfit is also promoting early footage from Sébastien Laudenbach’s Viva Carmen and clips from Federico Milella’s CG-animated adventure The Last Dinosaur. Global Constellation operates as part of Vuelta, a pan-European studio network that combines production, distribution and sales capabilities; this organizational reach supports international placement efforts and festival outreach for titles like Emil and the Detectives.
As the film advances through post-production, attention will center on how the creative team balances fidelity to Kästner’s original with modern storytelling techniques. With established producers, governmental funders, a major regional distributor and a dedicated international sales partner in Global Constellation, the project is positioned to engage family audiences both within German-speaking territories and on the global market. The combination of cultural legacy, contemporary direction and commercial sales strategy makes this new adaptation one to watch as it approaches its theatrical unveiling.