You guys ever hear of a book called MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN? Don’t worry if you haven’t, that shite hasn’t even hit bookshelves yet. But that’s not stopping tons of studio execs from trying to get their greedy little hands all over the rights!
Word over at The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision blog has a crazy auction heating up over this little diddy. Starting up last night the auction spanned several studios, with producers each carving out a “territory” to pitch–DreamWorks/Disney (Mark Gordon Co.), Fox (Chernin Entertainment), MGM and New Line (ContraFilm), Paramount (Brad Weston), Sony (Original Film), Universal (Barry Josephson) and Warner Bros.(Roy Lee). Word has it Fox is the front-runner so far, making a big pre-emptive bid for the project. Though more bids are expected throughtout today.
So what’s the big deal with MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN? Apparently its combination of super powers, dark humor, spooky tone and heart is what’s attracting the studios. Want to know what this thing is about? Of course you do! The Ransom Riggs novel reads a little something like this:
The story centers on a boy who grows up enraptured by his grandfather’s tale of an island of monsters and kids with powers. When his grandfather is killed, the now-16-year old boy finds himself on the island, exploring the ruins of an abandoned orphanage and discovering that the stories he heard were not only true, but only he can help stop the remaining hidden children – living in a time loop – from creatures who would destroy them.
I’d like to hope this thing is going to lean more towards the creepy, dark factor of the novel but my gut is telling me it’ll be put out as more of a kid-friendly affair. Either way it seems MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN is one to keep an eye on, and we’ll be doing just that! As soon as we get an update on this shite we’ll be sure to pass the good word along to all of you!
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