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One of France’s biggest TV producers, Marathon Media, is teaming with France Telecom-Orange’s Studio 37 to produce an E8 million ($12.7 million) animated feature version of Marathon’s international toon series hit, “Totally Spies.”

Skedded for theatrical release in 2009 and now heading into pre-production, the movie version of “Totally Spies!” will be a prequel to the TV series, which launched in 2001, and has seen five seasons.

The movie will explain how three Beverly Hills teen girls end up becoming international secret agents.

The TV series “Totally Spies!” has sold to 166 countries. International sales on the movie version are being handled by Daniel Marquet’s Groupe Un.

Mars, Studio 37’s regular domestic distribution partner, will handle the French release.

The movie has already pre-sold to Benelux (Films de l’Elysee), Italy (Mikado) and Eastern Europe (SPI).

Marathon’s link-up with Studio 37, the production- acquisition subsid of France Telecom-Orange, will allow for a cross platform promotion of the movie, skedded for release summer 2009 in France, and for new media distribution of “Totally Spies!”