Disney acquires 'Fallen' books for film

Disney has optioned the rights to the supernatural, romantic thriller, Fallen, a young-adult novel by Lauren Kate.

The book was just released this week from Delacorte Books (a division of Random House), and is the first in series of four young adult novels featuring angels. The story centers around an alienated young girl who is torn between between two young men, unaware that they are fallen angels who have been battling over her for centuries.

Angels are expected to be the next hot thing in young adult fiction, with titles like Fallen gaining momentum. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, was moved from a 2010 publication date to being released this past October. While the comparisons to Twilight are expected, look for angels to be the next big thing in Hollywood, featuring immortals who possess bad-boy charm, much like Edward from the Stephenie Meyers series. Legion, a film pitting angels against mankind, is slated for release January 22, 1010.

The film for Fallen will be helmed by producers Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, who will release it under the Mayhem Bros. banner. Oren Aviv and Todd Murata will oversee the movie for Disney, and Victor Constantino will be front and center for Mayhem.

Mayhem is currently in production on Disney's Secretariat, starring Diane Lane, and the Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson vehicle, The Tooth Fairy.

There's no word yet on when Fallen will actually go in to production, but with Hollywood wanting to get a jump on the next big thing, you can bet they'll try and pump it out faster than you can say, "Bye bye, Vampires."