Joachim Masannek, of DIE WILDEN KERLE fame, will not only write the screenplay for the international production, but will also direct it. In the new stories, he introduces audiences to the fantastic world of 14-year-old Will, who sets out on an exciting pirate adventure with his best friend Raindrop Jo in search of a mysterious treasure, the Rose of Aweiku. In the process, he finds himself in a breathtaking race against the Black Baron Talleyrand, a dangerous pirate named Blind Black Soul Whistle and the young, clever and beautiful pirate princess Honky Tonk Hannah.

With HONKY TONK PIRATES, UFA Cinema has set out to produce a truly unusual pirate film. A wildly imaginative cinematic adventure that will captivate viewers with its moving story, spectacular effects and breathtaking sets.

“Who of us never wanted to be a great pirate or a clever princess? We joined forces with Joachim Masannek to make this dream of millions of people come true by developing HONKY TONK PIRATES. I don’t know anyone in Germany who can initiate audiences into a story in as authentic, up-to-date and entertaining a way as Joachim and am delighted that we were able to lay the cornerstone for a new – and this time international – fiction and movie franchise after the success of DIE WILDEN KERLE,” says Thomas Peter Friedl, producer and managing director at UFA Cinema. HONKY TONK PIRATES is a cinematic production by UFA Cinema.

Its producers are Thomas Peter Friedl, Jürgen Schuster and Nina Maag. The FilmFernsehFond Bayern sponsored the development of the project.

Merchandising and licensing of the HONKY TONK PIRATES brands will be handled by UFA brand communication, a full-service licensing agency. The first collection of products will be available in stores in early November.

Joachim Masannek is the author of the bestselling DIE Wilden FuSSballkerle series, one of Germany’s most popular youth series in recent years. Its 13 volumes sold nine million units as books and audiobooks and were translated into more than 30 languages. By adapting his books for the screen in five big-screen films, Masannek created the most successful youth film series of all time, with 9 million viewers.