Digital Domain and Barnet Bain Films have acquired the film rights to Richard Bach's bestselling novel ILLUSIONS: THE ADVENTURES OF A RELUCTANT MESSIAH, according to DAILY VARIETY.

French filmmaker Yann Samuell is reportedly set to direct the adaptation, the inspirational account of an encounter with a modern-day messiah. The book has sold 15 million copies for author Bach, who also penned JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL.

Digital Domain and Barnet Bain also are developing an adaptation based on Dan Simmons' sci-fi novel ILIUM and its sequel OLYMPOS.

Digital Domain ceo Scott Ross will produce ILLUSIONS: THE ADVENTURES OF A RELUCTANT MESSIAH. He produced Digital Domain’s first foray into film production, SECONDHAND LIONS, distributed New Line last year, earned $42 million at the domestically.

Digital Domain recently completed vfx for Fox's I, ROBOT.

Bain produced WHAT DREAMS MAY COME and telemovie HOMELESS TO HARVARD.