Cookies & Milk, an original animated series based on the forthcoming middle grade novel of the same name, is in development at Disney Television Animation. The debut novel is semi-autobiographical, inspired by the childhood of author and Blues musician Shawn Amos, the son of Wallace “Wally” Amos, Jr. — iconic founder of the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie brand.
The project is being executive produced by Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland of Cinema Gypsy Productions (ABC’s black-ish, Disney Channel’s upcoming Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Jesse Murphy and James Sears Bryant of Jesse James Films, and Shawn Amos. Brian Egeston (The Game, upcoming film On a Wing and a Prayer) is co-executive producer and story editor.
“It’s an absolute coup to bring Shawn Amos’s heartfelt, humorous book to Disney television screens and, with the guiding vision, credibility and track record of our Cinema Gypsy and Jesse James Films creative team, we’re looking forward to telling this authentic and relatable story about belonging, self-acceptance and forgiveness,” said Disney Branded Television President Ayo Davis.
Cinema Gypsy’s Fishburne and Sugland commented, “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Shawn Amos, Ayo Davis and the talented team at Disney Branded Television. Shawn’s semi-autobiographical novel, Cookies & Milk, is partially based on his own experiences growing up as the son of Wally ‘Famous’ Amos. This humorous and heartwarming exploration of summer fun and friendship seen through the eyes of a young black boy being raised by his divorced father is full of joy, self-discovery and a whole lot of unconditional love.”
The Cookies & Milk teleplay follows the summer adventures of harmonica-playing middle-schooler Ellis Johnson as he begrudgingly helps his wildly optimistic and quite possibly magical father open the world’s first cookie shop in 1970s Hollywood, California.
Jesse James Films recently acquired the rights to the book, which received a six-figure advance in a two-book deal from the publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Cookies & Milk is set to be published in Spring 2022.
In a joint statement, Jesse James Films’ Murphy and Bryant said, “We are so excited to have found the right home for this show with Disney Television Animation, Laurence and Helen. Shawn has created such a beautiful reimagining of his childhood in a narrative that we hope will universally connect with audiences on and off the page.”
“What a dream to see this Black kid from Hollywood become a Disney character,” said author Amos. “I wrote Cookies & Milk for my son to help him understand his family, his culture and himself. I hope kids of all colors will see something of their own selves in Ellis. I’m so grateful to Helen, Jesse, and Laurence for championing my story. I know it’s in good hands with them and the deeply creative folks at Disney.”
This series greenlight marks the second animated project at Disney for Cinema Gypsy which has a first look deal with ABC Signature and is in production on Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur for Disney Channel.
Laurence Fishburne and Cinema Gypsy Productions are represented by CAA, Landmark Artists Management, and attorneys Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang. Jesse James Films is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment and Crowe & Dunlevy. Brian Egeston is represented by manager Adam Robinson at The Rookery, The Gersh Agency and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher LLP. Shawn Amos is represented by Barnes & Thornburg, LLP.
Disney Television Animation is the animation studio division of Disney Branded Television, which encompasses the creative, production and content marketing teams for the company’s television series, movies and other programming across live-action, animated and unscripted formats for the Disney+ streaming platform and Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior linear networks.
