Now that Gary Ross won’t be directing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, his schedule allows room to take on other projects. Disney is eying Ross to direct a prequel of a well-known story.

The 2004 book Peter Pan and the Starcatcher by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is a prequel to J.M. Barrie’s classic story of Peter Pan. Originally, Disney began eying the novel to be adapted into a film back in 2005, but instead opted to adapt it into a Tony Award-winning play first. In May, Jesse Wigutow agreed to write the script for the film adaptation.

Slash Film writes:

The story follows a young Peter and his adventures on a ship called the Never Land, which is headed toward a land ruled by the evil King Zarboff. On the journey, he befriends a girl named Molly who tells him about a mysterious trunk full of “starstuff” that they need to keep away from the dread pirate Black Stace (who later becomes Captain Hook) at all costs.

Like The Hunger Games, Peter and the Starcatcher has the potential to be the start in a blockbuster franchise, as Barry and Pearson’s book is the first in a series of children’s books. Toss in the fact that the stage version moved to the Great White Way and picked up some five Tonys this year, and it’s no wonder Disney’s eager to get the wheels turning on this thing.

Whether or not Ross decides to direct this film, we’ll be sure to follow him into whatever movies he ventures into next because it’s sure to be fantastic. Would you like to see Ross direct this film? What do you think of the plot? If you’ve seen the play, do you think a movie adaptation is a good idea? Leave us your thoughts below!