VARIETY: Fox, Shawn Levy fancy 'Fancy Nancy'
21 Laps will develop the Jane O'Connor series
By DAVE MCNARY
Fox is going young with "Fancy Nancy," acquiring rights to the children's book series and setting it with studio-based Shawn Levy at his 21 Laps banner.
Fancy Nancy, a young girl who loves dressing up extravagantly in feather boas, ruby slippers and tutus, debuted in 2005. "The Fancy Nancy" series -- written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser -- has resulted in 50 titles published by HarperCollins with over 17 million books sold.
The "Nancy" series should be familiar to Levy, who has four daughters. He produced and directed DreamWorks' "Real Steel" and is producing Fox's comedy "Neighborhood Watch," starring Ben Stiller and opening July 27. He's also been attached to produce "The Fight Before Christmas" for Fox.
Hotchkiss and Associates represented HarperCollins in the deal.