EXCLUSIVE: Lion Forge Entertainment has acquired rights to Kimberly Ann Harrison’s acclaimed debut novel Beyond the Paddock and will make a YA TV series with the author, showrunner and executive producer.
Harrison, whose list of credits include FRIENDS, Criminal Minds, STAR, Deputy, All Rise, Law and Order Organized Crime, Disney’s The Crossover and most recently Washington Black for Hulu, will adapt Beyond the Paddock for television and serve as the series showrunner. Lion Forge Entertainment founder and CEO David Steward II and President and Chief Creative Office Stephanie Sperber will produce the series for the studio.
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Beyond the Paddock is a YA coming-of-age story, following the lives of two teenagers from the Los Angeles foster care system who are forced to relocate to Lexington Kentucky into the elite world of equestrian competitive riding and jumping. The storycenters on brothers Julian and Cameron, adrenaline junkies who turn their love for street racing into a passion for competitive horse riding, set amidst a world full of privilege that they have never known before. Throughout the book, they learn each has a unique talent, making friends, enemies and finding connection along the way.
Harrison was inspired to write the novel after watching her sons ride at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, where they compete in English equestrian showjumping.
“When I first read Beyond the Paddock, it hit close to home for me,” said David Steward II. “My son rides, and over the years, the equestrian world has become a big part of our family’s life. We’ve spent countless hours around barns, competitions and that incredible community, so I immediately recognized how authentic Kimberly’s story feels. What she’s written isn’t just about the sport. It’s about belonging, discipline, and young people discovering who they are. That’s what made us fall in love with this project and why we’re so excited to bring it to television.”
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Harrison won an International Impact award for Beyond the Paddock and has a successful track record adapting novels. She served as Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer on the television adaptation of the acclaimed novel Washington Black for Hulu, where she helped shape the story’s transition from page to screen.
“From the moment we read the novel, we saw incredible potential for a series that feels both grounded and aspirational,” said Stephanie Sperber. “The story captures the thrill of discovering a passion while navigating the complexities of growing up, the discovery of an entirely new culture, first loves, victories and defeats, and Kimberly’s voice brings authenticity and emotional depth to these characters.”
“Being able to share an equestrian story from such a unique perspective is both fulfilling and empowering for so many people,” said Harrison. “I’m grateful to be partnering with Lion Forge to bring this heartfelt story to life. Their team has been incredibly collaborative and truly aligned with the vision I set out to achieve with this project.”
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Founded by David Steward II, Lion Forge Entertainment focuses on global IP that is both authentic and appealing to a broad audience. The company develops and produces animated and live-action content targeting kids & family, YA and adult audiences. Most recently, the studio’s epic animated fantasy series Iyanu was a breakout cross-platform success on HBO Max and Cartoon Network last year and will debut season two this spring.
The studio’s pipeline has surged in the last year. A highly active 12-month period for Lion Forge Entertainment saw the company join forces with George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) to adapt the novella A Dozen Tough Jobs into an adult animated feature film; set a partnership with TalesVision to expand their short-form YouTube sensation, Lostlings, into a premium long-form series; executive produce two movies – the comedy Jacob Beats Up Nate and A Dog’s Perfect Christmas for Netflix; set a first of-its-kind strategic partnership with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts); and partnered with Rebel Girls to develop content around Rebel Girls Sports in the unscripted space. Additional strategic partnerships for Lion Forge Entertainment include an alliance with Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House, to develop series and features based on select children’s books.
Harrison is represented by CAA and Yorn Levine Barnes Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner Endlich & Gellman. Lion Forge Entertainment is represented by Activist Artists Management.
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