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Supernatural books 'Wicked Lovely' and 'The Passage' in the works for new movie adaptations
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Universal has acquired the film rights for Marr's "Wicked Lovely"
Photo: HarperCollins
Two new supernatural books are in the works to become new movie adaptations.
The first is Young Adult novel Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. The book is the first in a series about a 17-year-old girl who can see fairies. But these aren't your Disney pixies ... in Wicked Lovely, the fairy world (or "faery" as Marr spells it) is a cruel place, and the teenage protagonist finds herself pursued as a potential spouse for the faery king.
Now, Variety reports that Universal Studios has acquired the film rights for Wicked Lovely and hired "Edward Scissorhands" screenwriter Caroline Thompson to adapt it.
There are already three books in Marr's series, and a fourth is in the works -- paving the way for Wicked Lovely to become the next hit franchise for Universal. Young Adult literature has seen a major rise in popularity recently thanks to the success of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga -- both of which have been adapted into mega-hit movie franchises. Another popular teen series, L.J. Smith's The Vampire Diaries, recently became a new TV series on the CW network.
Of course, tied in with the popularity of Young Adult literature is the current "It" factor for supernatural stories: vampires. Which leads us to another book-to-movie adaptation now in the works.
Also from Variety -- Fox 2000 is working on an adaptation of Justin Cronin's soon-to-be publishedt vampire novel The Passage. Variety reports that Fox 2000 has hired John Logan to adapt the story -- with Ridley Scott lined up as a potential director. (Logan and Scott previously worked together on the critical and commercial hit "Gladiator.")
Variety reports that Fox 2000 acquired the rights to The Passage two years ago -- after Cronin (writing under the penname Justin Ainsley) -- sold the book based on just the first 400 pages and an outline. But producers have been waiting for the completed book to make their film adaptation. Cronin's complete novel (nearly 1,200 pages, according to Variety) is currently set for release in Spring 2010.
Variety describes The Passage as a modern twist on the vampire legend (and these are not the sparkly, brooding vampires of Twilight):
In the novel, terminally ill patients become healthy after they are bitten by bats in South America, and the government conducts secret tests on human subjects to see if the virus can cure illness. The result is an apocalyptic unleashing of bloodthirsty vampire test subjects that include death row inmates.
There has been some buzz in the book, movie & TV industries that the vampire craze has run its course. But judging by the initial success of last week's premiere episode of "The Vampire Diaries" on the CW, the box office earnings of Twilight, mega sales on teen and adult vampire books and the general, overall success of merchandise related to such offerings -- I'd say the popularity of these bloodsuckers is far from over. Sure, consumers may start to get pickier -- with so many vampire goodies being offered up, they can be picky -- but if they're thirsty for vampires, they'll keep coming back for more.
What do you think? Too many vampire stories? Or keep 'em coming? Tell us your thoughts below in the comments.
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