MUMBAI: Zodiak Kids Studios, part of Banijay, has secured a co-development deal with Asner Productions to develop a live action TV series for eight–12 olds, based on the book series, The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency.

The first book from The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency was published by Penguin Random House in 2015 and there are now four books across the series from best-selling author Jordan Stratford.

In the series, history, mystery, science, and unlikely friendship collide in an alternate 19th Century London, where teens Ada Lovelace (the world’s first computer programmer) and Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein) meet and form a detective agency - a secret constabulary for the apprehension of clever criminals.

Steven Andrew said, “We are delighted to be working with Anne-Marie to bring to life this wonderfully inventive and imaginative retelling of these two remarkable young women. Zodiak Kids has brought many entertaining and thought- provoking live action drama series to children worldwide, such as BAFTA Winning Joe All Alone, Secret Life of Boys & Millie Inbetween (CBBC) and The Lodge (Disney), and we are looking forward to bringing The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency into our portfolio.”

Asner productions founder & co-development partner Anne-Marie Asner said, “I was drawn to the Wollstonecraft series because of its contemporary feel applied to a period piece for kids. I believe its unstoppable science and literary odd couple girl leads alongside its use of real historic figures, like Ada Lovelace, Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, will be aspirational role models for viewers. And who wouldn’t want to spend time with brilliant, eccentric and unintentionally funny Ada or feel calmed knowing that savvy, well-mannered and well-read Mary could smooth any social calamity? Wollstonecraft’s Ada and Mary are who many of us would like to be or at least have as our best buddies.”

The executive producer for the series will be Steven Andrew, creative director, Zodiak Kids.

Zodiak Kids own international distribution rights to the series.