Warner Bros. Pictures has snatched the rights to the yet-to-be-published childrens novel, HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS by James A. Owen, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. David Heyman and David Goyer will produce via their Heyday Films and Phantom Four companies respectively.
Set in London during WWI, three stranger John, Jack and Charles come into the possession of the Imaginarium Geographica, an atlas of all the mythical and fairy tale lands. They trio must travel to the Archipelago of Dreams, where they must battle forces that threaten two worlds. The secret is that the threesome are future fantasy authors J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams.
Simon & Schuster is releasing the book next week with a huge 100,000 copy, hardcover printing. The publisher plans to release six more books in the series, each October.
Owen first took the idea to Heyday Films' Marc Rosen as a film property. Rosen felt self-published author and illustrator Owen should turn his two-page outline into a book first. Once Owen had a manuscript, he sent it to Rosen, who at the time was working with Heyman and Goyer on the TV series, THRESHOLD. After which Heyman and Goyer used their own money to option the film films.
Rosen and Gotham Group's Ellen Goldsmith-Vein will executive produce. Gotham's Lindsay Williams is co-producer.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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