Sycamore Studios Secures Animated Film Rights to John Patrick Green’s “InvestiGators” Franchise

Sycamore Studios announced in a Deadline article (July 2026) that it has secured exclusive animated motion-picture rights to the “InvestiGators” franchise, a New York Times bestselling series by John Patrick Green. The deal authorizes the studio to produce an animated feature and to develop related franchise extensions.

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The series debuted in 2020 and has sold roughly five million copies. Its crime-fighting alligator protagonists have positioned the books as a family-oriented property popular with children and parents.

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John Patrick Green is represented by Debbie Deuble Hill (IAG), Jen Linnan (Linnan Literary Management) and Jamie Coghill (Surpin, Mayersohn & Coghill). Sycamore Studios’ leadership includes Co-Founder and CEO Christian McGuigan and Head of Production & Distribution Cooper Waterman. The studio’s current slate features the animated film “Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild,” the “Madeline” franchise, and Ben Hatke’s “Zita the Spacegirl” trilogy.

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Sycamore Studios frames the acquisition as a foundation for a long-term, multi-platform franchise. Plans include extending “InvestiGators” into film, television series, games, consumer products and live experiences, aligning with the studio’s goal to build enduring global family brands.

Deadline Hollywood

Sycamore Studios’ leadership highlighted the rarity of family franchises that capture a generation’s imagination, noting that “InvestiGators” fits that profile. The studio stressed the property’s potential to grow beyond a single movie into a diversified entertainment ecosystem. Green expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and reiterated his belief that the series can move from page to screen. The statements echo the studio’s broader strategy to build long-term family franchises.

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• “Great family franchises don’t come along very often, and when they do, they have a way of capturing the imagination of an entire generation. InvestiGators is one of those rare properties,” — Christian McGuigan, Co-Founder & CEO, Sycamore Studios

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• “Seeing that enthusiasm firsthand has made it impossible to ignore just how special this franchise has become.” — Christian McGuigan, Co-Founder & CEO, Sycamore Studios

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• “What excites us most is that InvestiGators is far more than a fantastic movie. It’s the foundation for an enduring global entertainment franchise. The richness of John’s world creates opportunities that extend well beyond the theatrical experience into series, gaming, consumer products, live experiences, and other ways families can continue engaging with these characters for years to come. That’s exactly the kind of long-term franchise we’re passionate about building.” — Cooper Waterman, Head of Production & Distribution, Sycamore Studios

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• “I’ve always believed InvestiGators had the potential to leap beyond the page,” — John Patrick Green, Author

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Sycamore Studios indicated that the animated feature will be developed alongside series, gaming, consumer products and live experiences, extending the franchise beyond the film. No specific production schedule was disclosed.

Deadline Hollywood