TF1 International will begin shopping the project at next month’s EFM with Yann Samuell on board to direct.

Samuell also wrote the screenplay based on Louis Pergaud’s adventure novel, which director John Roberts most recently adapted for film in 1994.

Marc Dupontavice and Didier Lupfer of One World Films are producing the €12.8m project. Shooting is scheduled to begin in mid-April in the south of France.

Samuell’s version will remain faithful to the original story – set in the 1960s during the escalating battle between two rival child gangs in the countryside – but adds a female character to the proceedings to be played by Mathilde Seinger.

UGC Distribution will release the film on Nov 23.