Director Tim Oliehoek is directing this film.
The film is expected to premiere in the spring of 2024 on Disney+ in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
‘Fly the Coop’ First Dutch Disney+ Original Film
AMSTERDAM, (DATE TBC) – Disney+ has given the go-ahead for production of the film ‘Fly the coop,’ produced by the production company Elbe Stevens Films and written by multiple award-winning novelist Benny Lindelauf. ‘Fly the coop’ is his first film screenplay. Tim Oliehoek will be director for this first Dutch Disney+ Original film for the international streaming platform. ‘Fly the coop’ is expected to premiere on Disney+ in the fall of 2024.
The life of 37-year-old ornamental chicken keeper Gaby changes drastically when balloonist Chretien crashes during a balloon flight on her farm, where she lives with her 7-year-old son Kuif and her grumpy mother Mientje. Tintin, whose father lives and works far away from home, finds in Chretien a paternal role model. That is not at all what Gaby is waiting for. To make matters worse, Gaby also develops romantic feelings for Chretien. Moreover, she is even less comfortable with that. Gaby, Chretien and mother Mientje all carry – in their own way – a big secret with them. What will happen when these secrets come out and everything turns out to be different from imagined? Will love for each other overcome everything? Alternatively, are things sometimes so broken that they cannot be fixed? ‘Fly the coop’ tells the universal story of love, grief and acceptance.
Disney+ embraced the story
Director Tim Oliehoek: “The pre-production of ‘Fly the coop’ has begun. I still can’t believe that after 6 years of development we will be filming this wonderful story. Benny Lindelauf’s story maps recognizable and confronting themes and I find it admirable how Benny has created his own world. I cannot help but confess that I am smitten with every letter of the screenplay. Indeed, after 5 theatrical films, I promised myself that I would only want to direct a feature film again if the need could be read on paper, and I believe I have found that need as a director in this story. I feel incredibly honored that Disney+ has embraced the story and that we have the opportunity to translate this this sweet, witty and also touching story into film.”
Title Disney+ EMEA
Evert van der Veer, (VP, Programming, Disney+ EMEA): “After the first scripted original series “Nemesis,” we are now starting production on the first Disney+ Original Film from Dutch soil. The production of local original content with top creative talent from the Netherlands and Belgium is a fantastic step towards expanding our local content on the international streaming platform. Disney+ is thereby establishing itself even more strongly in the Benelux market.”
Benny Lindelauf, with its unique characters, We look forward to working with Elbe Stevens Films and Tim Oliehoek to show this extraordinary love story – with a universal message in a primeval Dutch setting to all Disney+ viewers in Benelux and around the world.”
About Disney+
Disney+ is the streaming home for movies and series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, as well as the new general entertainment and content brand in select international markets, Star. Part of Disney’s Media and Entertainment Distribution division, Disney+ is available on most Internet-connected devices and offers an ad-free viewing experience with a variety of original feature films, documentaries, live action series, animated series and shorts. In addition to unprecedented access to Disney’s incredible library of film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the place to stream the latest films released by The Walt Disney Studios exclusively. For more information visit DisneyPlus.com.
