GFM’s Reincarnated Cat Tale ’10 Lives’ Signs NorAm & China Distribution Partners

10 Lives, the new CG-animated, heartwarming comedy-adventure about the connection between pets and their humans, is purring along with international theatrical deals following its Sundance premiere earlier this year. Produced by GFM Animation (U.K.) and 10 Lives Productions with animation by L’Atelier in Montreal. the pic has been picked up by Briarcliff Entertainment for North America, releasing in theaters on October 11.

Additionally, London-based Taost Entertainment has acquired Chinese distribution rights for the feature. Release plans were not detailed.

Synopsis: Beckett is a pampered and selfish cat who totally takes for granted the lucky hand he has been dealt. All that is about to change, however, when he carelessly loses his ninth life.

With no lives left and faced with the inevitable, Beckett pleads for things to be back to how they were. At first his request is refused but in a moment of exceptional empathy, the ‘Gatekeeper’ has a change of heart and allows him to return to Earth with a whole new set of lives.

What he doesn’t realize immediately, however, is that each of these new lives will see him return in a variety of different forms … each one teaching him a valuable and timely lesson.

It is a journey that sees Beckett turn from gloriously self-absorbed pet to a self-sacrificing hero; because sometimes you must travel many different roads to find the very best version of yourself.

The voice cast, led by comedian/TV host Mo Gilligan as Beckett, features pop star Zayn Malik, Simone Ashley (Bridgerton), Sophie Okonedo (The Wheel of Time), Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso), Dylan Llewellyn (Derry Girls) and the esteemed Bill Nighy — winner of two BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, an Annie Award for voice acting (Arthur Christmas) and nominations for an Oscar and a Tony.

The film is GFM’s first “home-grown” animation production. The  studio tapped director Chris Jenkins (Duck Duck Goose, Home, Surf’s Up), who also penned the screenplay with Ken Cinnamon and Karen Wengrod. Guy Collins and Sean Feeney are producers. Briarcliff CEO Tom Ortenberg will board as an executive producers.

The North American rights deal was arranged by Victoria Romley at WME for 10 Lives Prod., Jessica Rose and Ortenberg for Briarcliff, and Collins for GFM.

Read more about the movie in Animation Magazine‘s exclusive interview here.

[Source: Deadline]