After picking up the rights to the upcoming novelNevermoorlast year, 20th Century Fox is moving forward with the movie adaptation. The studio has brought on filmmakerDrew Goddardto write the screenplay adaptation forNevermoorwhile also serving as a producer. The filmmaker does have a number of directing credits to his name, such asCabin in the Woods, but there is no indication that he will be the director of this new adaptation.
Thefantasy book, entitledNevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, will be published on October 31, from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, with the children’s fantasy novel already selling translation rights in 27 countries. The book marks the novel debut for author Jessica Townsend. Here’s the official description of the upcoming book below.
“Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks, and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor. It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult anddangerous trialsagainst hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart-an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests-or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.”
20th Century Fox hasn’t set aside a release date for this fantasy adaptation, but it’s certainly on its way, and if this book becomes the next publishing sensation, the studio can always put it on the fast track to capitalize on the book’s success. Universal did just that with their adaptation ofThe Girl On the Train, which started production less than a year after the novel debuted on the shelves. Then again, a fantasy movie of this size and scope will likely take some time to figure out all of the logistics, but the studio has taken the first important step by securing a talented screenwriter to adapt the material.
Drew Goddard has become one of 20th Century Fox’s go-to filmmakers, writing the screenplay adaptation for Ridley Scott’sThe Martian, while also writing the script for the studio’s upcomingX-Force movie. He is also in pre-production on another movie for 20th Century Fox, entitledBad Times at the El Royale, which he is writing and directing, and will also reunite him withCabin in the Woodsstar Chris Hemsworth along with Jeff Bridges and Cailee Spaeny.The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news on Nevermoor today, and hoepfully we’ll hear more soon on this project.
