Monarch Media Enlists Kali Bailey to Adapt ‘The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus’

Monarch Media has announced an exciting new project, enlisting the talents of writer and director Kali Bailey to adapt the screenplay for ‘The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus’, a live-action feature film based on the beloved children’s book by L. Frank Baum.

First published in 1902, Baum’s book follows Santa Claus from his origins as an abandoned baby in a magical forest near Oz, to his eventual rise to become the beloved figure known for spreading peace, love, and joy during the holiday season. Baum, a renowned fantasy writer of the 20th century, is best known for his 14-book series, ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, which inspired the 1939 film classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

Monarch Media’s principals, Steve Barnett, Alan Powell, and Vicky Patel, will produce the new film, with Bailey bringing her unique vision to the project. This is not Bailey’s first collaboration with Monarch Media, having co-written the company’s coming-of-age film ‘A Week Away’, which spawned the Angel Network series of the same name. Bailey went on to co-direct multiple episodes of the spinoff series and also wrote and directed the Angel Network sci-fi film ‘The Lightning Code’.

Speaking about the origins of the film, Monarch’s Steve Barnett expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, ‘I’ve been obsessed with the origins of Santa Claus for a long time, so discovering that the incredible L. Frank Baum had explored that backstory was really exciting. Santa is one of the few fictional, global icons, and this story taps into that shared mythology. Kali has created a sweeping, four-quadrant adventure that feels timeless yet fresh—a big, emotional ride that will connect with everyone around the world, across cultures and generations.’

Monarch Media has an impressive track record of producing innovative and critically acclaimed films, including the Richard Linklater-directed ‘Hit Man’ starring Glen Powell, and the animated feature ‘Tangles’, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Seth Rogen, and others, which premiered to critical acclaim at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Their comedy ‘Babies’, directed by Lauren Miller Rogen, and starring Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, David Strathairn, Sharon Stone, Ed Helms, and Issa Rae, is set to premiere at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival and will be released theatrically this fall.

Monarch Media is also producing an untitled Nick Jonas holiday rom-com for Netflix, to be directed by Ari Sandal, and is currently prepping a remake of the coming-of-age film ‘A Walk to Remember’. Bailey is repped by First Story Entertainment and attorney Joshua Lastine of Lastine Entertainment Law.