Bress Pens Alchemy

Sometimes there’s a fine line between Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror these days, so it can be difficult to tell the three apart when a new project is first announced. Like THE ALYCHEMIST, the latest fantasy novel adaptation underway over at New Line. Yes, it says it’s a fantasy, but as it deals with being hunted by creatures… well, I suppose there’s always that horror element to things.

Based on the series of novels by Michael Scott called “The Immortal Nicholas Flamel”, New Line Cinema just hired Eric Bress to write the adaptation, with reality TV mega-producer Mark Burnett on board to… produce. You may be thinking ‘I ain’t never heard of that book before…’, and you’d be right, as the first in the series (‘The Alchemist’) doesn’t even hit bookstores until later this month. I guess they feel like they have a winner on their hands if they’re willing to make a movie out of it already.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, THE ALCHEMIST revolves around a pair of teenage fraternal twins who find themselves caught up in an age-old battle between good and evil as they race across America learning the ancient ways of magic. Along the way they are hunted by creatures and beings from the mythologies of a dozen nations. Nicholas Flamel, a 600-year-old man who looks to be 50, serves as their teacher and guide.

While I’m a fan of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, it seems like most of these fantasy-book adaptations are just… lame (ERAGON, anyone?). Bress is also known for co-writing the New Line classics THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT and FINAL DESTINATION, so at least we know the adaptation is in good hands… and you never know, this may be the one to rock all of our socks off. Stick around for more on THE ALCHEMIST as we hear it!