EXCLUSIVE: Coming off a three-year overall deal at Netflix, kids programming veteran Nancy Kanter is re-launching her production company, Available Light Productions, with several projects already in the works, live-action move Wayward Girls; animated movie Penny Phantom, based on the novel Little Thieves by Margaret Owen; animated movie The Circus Ship, based on the picture book of the same name; and animated preschool comedy series Alexander the Post Fox done in partnership with Kevin Jonas.
Available Light Productions’s slate of original series and movies, which Kanter is shepherding with the company’s Head of Development, William Goldberg, are expected to be taken out to the broader kids, family and general audience market.
Additionally Kanter, whose Netflix deal ended at the end of January, has animated and live-action projects across both the kid and adult demographic still in development at the streamer where her pact started in the kinds and family space before migrating to YA and adult fare.
“My time at Netflix was a gift that allowed me to extend my creative development beyond Kids & Family, and while those projects will always be closest to my heart, I am excited to see some of my YA and adult projects move forward,” Kanter said. “I leave having had the great pleasure of working alongside so many talented folks on the live-action and animation teams, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their support. I look forward to landing new series and movies in just the right homes and continuing to develop material that speaks to me and to broad audiences in surprising and authentic ways.”
Prior to Netflix, Kanter spent 20 years at Disney, most recently as EVP, Content and Creative Strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide. She was responsible for such kid and tween global hit franchises as the Peabody Award-winning Doc McStuffins, the Emmy Award-winning Sofia the First and juggernaut Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; Descendants 3 and Zombies; and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and the feature-length Phineas & Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, both for Disney+. Kanter also spearheaded the creation of the preeminent Disney Junior preschool brand.
Here are details on Available Light Productions’ new projects in development:
Live-action movie Wayward Girls is a coming-of-age dramedy with an original screenplay by Kristin Belka Maier (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Kimberly McCullough (High School Musical:The Musical: The Series) is attached to direct.
Animated movie Penny Phantom is a fantasy comedy adventure based on the novel Little Thieves by Margaret Owen with a screenplay by Diana McCorry (Human Kind, Tammy’s Tiny Tea Time). Daron Nefcy (Star vs The Forces of Evil) attached to direct.
Kanter has partnered with Trustbridge Entertainment to develop animated movie The Circus Ship, an adventure comedy based on the best-selling picture book, The Circus Ship by award-winning author Chris Van Dusen, with screenplay by Lauren Faust (My Little Pony) and Craig McCracken (The Power Puff Girls, Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends)
Animated preschool comedy series Alexander the Post Fox is done in partnership with Copper Cup Entertainment & Kevin Jonas. It is created by Amy Higgins (Wander Over Yonder, Star vs the Forces of Evil) and written by Higgins and Brian Clark (Go, Dog,Go, Molly From Denali).
