May 13, 2016 - 18:14 AMT
Weinstein Co. picks up Elle Fanning’s animated “Ballerina”

The Weinstein Co. has picked up U.S. rights to directors Eric Summer and Eric Warin’s French animated movie “Ballerina”, TheWrap has learned.

Elle Fanning, pop star Carly Rae Jepsen and Maggie Ziegler are attached to voice the lead characters in the English-language version of the film, which is currently in production in Montreal, Canada.

The music composer is Klaus Badelt (“Room”) and songs will be written and produced by Chris Braide, known for his collaboration with SIA, Selena Gomez and Beyoncé

Fanning will voice Felicie Milliner, an 11-year-old orphan in 1880s France who aspires to become a professional ballet dancer and “borrows” a spoiled brat’s identity. She is mentored by a tough and mysterious cleaner (Jepsen) and learns that talent and hard work may not be enough to outshine her fellow students. She also finds a soul mate in an charismatic young inventor.

Carole Noble and Laurent Zeitoun wrote the script. Producers include Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Yann Zenou and Laurent Zeitoun of Quad Productions, Main Journey and Andre Rouleau and Valerie D’Auteuil of Caramel Film.

“Ballerina” marks the latest addition to a long-standing relationship between TWC and producers Adassaovsky, Zenou, Zeitoun who previously worked together on the acclaimed French film “The Intouchables,” which TWC is developing into an English adaptation.