'Pirate Mo and the Legend of the Red Ruby' Sells to More Than 50 Countries

Animated family adventure "Pirate Mo and the Legend of the Red Ruby" has sold to more than 50 countries ahead of its market premiere at the American Film Market. Sales company The Playmaker Munich closed the latest deals before the film arrives at AFM.

The newest buyers include Umbrella Entertainment, which took rights for Australia and New Zealand, Israel's FilmHouse and Vietnam's Skyline Media. The teaser debuted with Variety.

Which territories have already bought the film?

Previously announced sales span much of Europe and beyond:

• Baltics: Garsu Pasaulio Irasai
• Benelux: Just4Kids
• Bulgaria: Pro Films
• Czech Republic and Slovakia: DonArt Production
• Ex-Yugoslavia: Blitz
• Greece: Rosebud.21
• Hungary and Romania: ADS
• Middle East: Grand Entertainment for Motion Pictures
• Poland: M2 Films
• Portugal: Outsider Films
• Scandinavia: Njutafilms
• Turkey: Filmarti
• Ukraine: Svoekino
• North America: Viva Pictures Distribution

DCM Distribution will handle Germany and Austria, with the theatrical release set for April 29, 2027.

Who made the film, and what is it about?

Florian Westermann, co-director of "The Amazing Maurice," directs. Richie Conroy and Westermann wrote the screenplay, adapting Kirsten Boie's novel "Seeräubermoses."

The story unfolds on board a pirate ship. A child, Mo, lives there with a crew of ragtag seadogs and the ship's pet, a goat. Mo arrived by chance among the pirates as an infant and has been raised by the ship's kindly captain, Claas. One day she is captured by the wicked pirate Peg Leg Olle. In captivity she meets the resourceful cabin boy Hannes and his pet bird. Together with Hannes, Claas, his motley crew and their pets, Mo must defeat Peg Leg Olle and fulfill her childhood prophecy of finding the Blood Red Ruby of Doom to restore peace and harmony to the land.

Ulysses Films, Letterbox Filmproduktion, Isla Molona AIE, Arxlight Pictures and Arx Anima produce the film. The producers are Emely Christians, Sonja Matthes, Michael Lehmann, Holger Ellermann, Dunja Bernatzky, Kris Staber, Nicolás Matji and Edmon Roch.

The project draws on a broad base of public support. Backers include ICAA, OEFI+, DFFF, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, FFA, BKM, OEFI, ICEC, FFW and Creative Europe MEDIA Slate Funding.

What does this change for the film's rollout?

The breadth of pre-sales gives the production a confirmed distribution footprint across five continents before its first market screening. Buyers who missed earlier rounds will now assess the film at AFM with more than 50 territories already closed, and the German release on April 29, 2027 anchors a rollout that will likely see additional deals follow the market premiere.