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 [1]. 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.
Links:
[1] http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/04/universal-eyeing-james-pattersons-maximum-ride-exclusive.html