Popular YA sci-fi series and beloved feature of Scholastic book fairs everywhere Animorphs will be making the leap to the big screen!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, who first reported the news, Scholastic Entertainment — the TV and Film division of Scholastic — is partnering with is partnering with Erik Feig and his Picturestart banner for the first feature film based on K.A. Applegate’s popular YA sci-fi series.
“The central themes of Animorphs have resonated strongly with kids for more than two decades, and the time is right for a feature film that takes this captivating sci-fi adventure to another level for audiences today,” said Scholastic Entertainment’s Lucchese. “Picturestart has an incredible track record of success, and Erik and his team are the perfect partners to help bring this exciting new series based on the adventure-packed books to movie screens.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to work with Scholastic to adapt Animorphs, an iconic book series with a wildly unique combination of exciting, witty, outlandish and grounded elements that feel all too relevant for our times,” said producer Erik Feig. “We know these books have a deservedly deep bench of passionate fans — ourselves included — and we hope to make Katherine Applegate and her co-author, Michael Grant, proud as we bring Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias to life for a new generation.”
The main plot of Animorphs centers on five teens — Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias — who are granted the ability to morph into any animal they touch. They use these powers to fight a secret alien invasion of Earth.
The Animorphs series spanned 54 books (and 10 companion books) and dealt with the horrors of war, the dehumanization of soldiers and the interplay between of morality and heroism. It went on to sell more than 35 million copies, with the original run occurring from 1996 to 2001.
Though this will be the first time the series will make the leap to the big screen, fans will remember the Canadian-produced television series that ran for two seasons in the late ’90s.
In addition to the film, Scholastic also has plans to launch a graphic novel adaptation of the Animorphs series with Eisner-Award nominee Chris Gine adapting the first novel.
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