Robert Zemeckis might go Chaos Walking with screenwriter Charlie Kaufman

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Besides TWILIGHT and THE HUNGER GAMES, adaptations of young adult novels have struggled in theaters. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, THE HOST and most recently MORTAL INSTRUMENTS did not perform nearly as well as expected, but that doesn't mean Hollywood is going to stop looking for a book series that could launch a new film franchise and (of course) make a ton of cash.

The Wrap is reporting that Robert Zemeckis is interested in directing CHAOS WALKING for Lionsgate. The sci-fi film is based off of the trilogy of the same name by author Patrick Ness and Charlie Kaufman is writing the adaptation. A source for The Wrap says that Zemeckis is currently negotiating with the studio and a deal could be made by the end of the month.

Here's a plot description from Amazon for the first novel in the series, A Knife of Never Letting Go:

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World?

One thing that really intrigues me about this project: Charlie Kaufman. He is one of my favorite screenwriters and it's been far too long since we've had something from the talented writer. The book series sounds different from other novels for young adults, and if Robert Zemeckis decides to helm the film I'd definitely be interested in checking out CHAOS WALKING.