Thea Von Engelbrechten Lands Sony First-Look Deal for ‘Hazelwood’

By Daniel Okafor

Sony Pictures Television has signed Thea Von Engelbrechten to a multiyear first-look deal; according to the studio, her “Moletown Drama” platforms have 2.5 million TikTok followers and 1 million Instagram followers.

What does Sony’s first-look deal cover?

Under the agreement, Sony has first-look rights (priority to develop and produce her original series) from Von Engelbrechten. Its first project is “Hazelwood,” a microdrama (short-form series). Sony calls it a “darkly comedic animated microseries.”

It premieres Friday, Nov. 13, on YouTube. Each episode runs only a few minutes. New episodes arrive every Friday on YouTube, then move to TikTok and Instagram on Sundays.

“Thea has cultivated a distinctive voice, blending disarming charm with a sharp, irreverent sense of humor in a way that feels entirely her own,” said Frank Ochoa, VP of adult animation at Sony Pictures Television, in a statement.

“Her ability to create endearing characters and place them in wonderfully inappropriate situations has earned her a passionate following. We’re excited to bring ‘Hazelwood’ to life with her and help her develop whatever she dreams up next.”

“It’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to build my own world and characters, and they’ve given me the perfect environment to do that,” Von Engelbrechten said in a statement.

“They really understand creatives and the creative process, and have been so supportive in giving me the freedom to take the project in the direction I want. Everyone has been an absolute pleasure to work with. The team is so kind, welcoming, and feels like one big family. I feel incredibly lucky to be working with them.”

What happens in “Hazelwood”?

Sony’s series logline calls “Hazelwood” an animated soap opera (a continuing melodrama) set in a picturesque woodland town. The animal residents’ seemingly idyllic lives unravel amid scandals, dysfunctional relationships and nihilistic violence. The series features an original cast and storylines created for the show.

Von Engelbrechten’s characters include:

• Meadow, a recovering alcoholic
• Richard, Meadow’s husband
• Arabella, the couple’s popularity-obsessed neighbor
• Pizza Mole
• Scar

According to the logline, they navigate “outrageous drama” and “the everyday absurdities of suburban life.” Its few-minute episodes sit closer to a social clip than a standard television episode.

Why did “Sylvanian Drama” become “Moletown Drama”?

Sony’s announcement identifies Von Engelbrechten as hailing from Ireland. During the pandemic, she first drew a following by creating popular videos featuring “Sylvanian Families” animal figurines, called “Calico Critters” in the United States. She placed the figurines in absurd, soap opera-esque situations.

Japan-based Epoch, which owns the Sylvanian Families franchise, filed a lawsuit against Von Engelbrechten alleging copyright infringement. She said the videos were parody. The parties settled out of court. As part of the settlement, she changed the accounts’ name from “Sylvanian Drama” to “Moletown Drama.” The visible change was a new handle.

Who joins Sony’s creator roster?

Von Engelbrechten is the latest content creator recruited by Sony Pictures Television. The studio previously sealed a deal with Adam and Craig Malamut after their YouTube work brought them to the studio, where they created the Fox animated series “Universal Basic Guys.”

Sony identifies Von Engelbrechten as creator and producer on “Hazelwood.” Evan Cavic at Artemis Entertainment represents her.

What happens on Creator Access Day?

On Friday, Oct. 23, Sony Pictures Television will hold a “Creator Access Day.” The studio says the event gives creators access to shows including:

• “Hazelwood”
• “Universal Basic Guys”
• “S.W.A.T.: Exiles”
• “Doc”
• “Outlander: Blood of My Blood”
• “American Hostage”
• “Shark Tank”

The arrangement gives Von Engelbrechten a multiyear route into studio development. The first measure comes Friday, Nov. 13, with “Hazelwood” starting its YouTube run.