Mattel is developing a feature film based on the true story of a young girl who tried to send her Christmas message to Santa via a balloon.
Christmas Balloon centers on Dáyami, who was living in a Mexican border town in 2018 when she tied her Christmas list to a balloon and let it go, hoping it would find its way to the North Pole. Instead, it was found by Randy and Marcella Heiss, a couple in Arizona grieving the loss of their own child, who made it their mission to fulfill the girl’s touching Christmas wishes. At the time, Mattel worked with the Heisses and donated toys.
Gabriela Revilla Lugo will write the screenplay, with Chris Lemos and Luis Guerrero of Vital Pictures serving as producers.
Kevin McKeon and Ivan Sanchez will oversee the project for Mattel Films, whose slate also includes features based on the company’s classic toys like Barbie, Hot Wheels and the Magic 8 Ball.
“I am honored to bring Dáyami’s journey to life in a time when it’s clear we all need to believe in hope and magic,” Revilla Lugo commented.
Revilla Lugo, who is repped by Industry and Felker Toczek, acted as an executive producer on Palm Springs and Netflix’s The Starling. She currently works as a staff writer on ABC’s A Million Little Things.
