Universal Pictures is in negotiations to pick up the rights to James Patterson's YA book MAXIMUM RIDE from Columbia in turnaround, reports HEAT VISION. Catherine Hardwicke would still direct with Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul producing.

Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (IRON MAN, COWBOYS AND ALIENS) have been hired to pen a new script. The story follows six genetically altered teens, who are part-human part-bird, that escape from their lab and are hunted by the Erasers, who are part-human part-wolf.

Insiders believe Columbia is giving up the project to focus on its other teen-centered properties, which include the SPIDER-MAN reboot, GHOSTBUSTERS 3 and GOOSEBUMPS.