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Wondering what you’ll watch when The Hunger Games franchise is over? We’ve got some ideas…

As well as sequels, remakes, and comic book adaptations, there’s one kind of movie you can feel fairly sure is going to keep popping up at a cinema near you: young adult adaptations. Stories about teenagers are still doing big business in the book trade, and thanks to Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games, Hollywood is convinced of the genre’s appeal, too.

A couple of new franchises have already been kicked off – there’s still at least another Divergent sequel on the way, and another Maze Runner sequel – but what’s more interesting is the list of Ya novels that have been optioned and may soon be taking over the box office. Now, not all of the adaptations on this list will see the light of day,...

"Coraline" director Henry Selick is set to helm a live-action version of "A Tale Dark and Grimm," based on the book by Adam Gidwitz, where Hansel and Gretel escape their own ominous fairy tale only to be met with eight successive fairytales to navigate, all dark and fearsome. In the book, an irreverent narrator takes the reader through each of the siblings' travails. John W. Mann and Jon Gunn penned the adaptation, with contributions from Selick. Selick, who was Oscar nominated for "Coraline," told Variety in a statement that the project is "a hilarious, deeply inventive tale about survival in the world of fairytales and what it takes to forgive one’s parents." His other directing credits include "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach." Last year, Disney took a $50 million write-off for Selick's then in-the-works stop motion feature, at one point titled "ShadeMaker," reportedly because it...

Some pretty nifty news has come in regarding who will be helming the upcoming adaptation of the Adam Gidwitz book A Tale Dark & Grimm for Kamala Pictures and FilmNation. Variety is reporting that Coraline director Henry Selick is now on board.

Jon Gunn (My Date With Drew) and John W. Mann (Mercy Streets) will write the adapted screenplay.

“I remain completely enraptured by Adam Gidwitz’ marvelous book ‘A Tale Dark & Grimm,’” Selick said in a statement. “It’s a hilarious, deeply inventive tale about survival in the world of fairytales and what it takes to forgive one’s parents. So it’s a huge thrill to be joining the team of Kamala Films and FilmNation as the director of the film based on it.”

Gidwtiz's original frightening and witty story -- inspired by the Brothers Grimm -- follows the adventures of two unsuspecting children who hold the key to breaking out of the Dark Ages.

The stories from our childhoods we remember best, and often times most fondly, tend to be the ones that managed to leave a scar on our psyches. They were the ones we were probably too young to hear at the time, the ones that included some form of gruesomeness that probably shouldn’t have been included in a story for children at all. That’s why all of those disturbingly violent Brothers Grimm fairytales have been repeatedly retold down through the ages, and it’s why people are so fond of Henry Selick’s often dark, sometimes creepy stop-animated movies The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. There’s just something magical that happens when you mix fairy tale storytelling with the macabre. All of this is why the latest news regarding Selick’s career is super good news for people who like to make their kids cry. The Wrap has a report saying that the director has...

FilmNation has tapped director Henry Selick (Coraline) to direct A Tale Dark and Grimm. Written by Adam Gidwitz and illustrated by Hugh D'Andrade, A Tale Dark and Grimm follows Hansel and Gretel as they cross over into other Grimm fairy tales and interact with the witches, dragons and other creatures who dwell there. The children's book was adapted by John W. Mann and Jon Gunn and will be a live-action feature. Hit the jump for more. Deadline reported on Selick being tapped to helm A Tale Dark and Grimm. Here's what the director had to say about the source material: “I remain completely enraptured by Adam Gidwitz’ marvelous book A Tale Dark & Grimm,” said Selick. “It’s a hilarious, deeply inventive tale about survival in the world of fairytales and what it takes to forgive one’s parents. So it’s a huge thrill to be joining the team of...

Filmnation has set Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) to direct A Tale Dark & Grimm. Based on Adam Gidwitz' book of the same title, A Tale Dark & Grimm is said to be just as funny as it is scary. It's about two kids who leave their own dark fairy tale and find themselves in eight other equally scary stories - it highlights just how gruesome the original fairy tales were written. Selick helped adapt the screenplay along with Jon Gunn and John W. Mann (the writing duo also wrote the upcoming movies B.O.O., Magic 8 Ball and The Nutcracker).

While Selick is best known for his animated work (including James and the Giant Peach), he has directed a live-action movies before - the Brendan Fraser-starrer Monkeybone.

Interesting, the illustrator for the book, "A Tale Dark & Grimm" said he was instructed to make the artwork "Coraline-ish.

Filmnation has set Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) to direct A Tale Dark & Grimm. Based on Adam Gidwitz' book of the same title, A Tale Dark & Grimm is said to be just as funny as it is scary. It's about two kids who leave their own dark fairy tale and find themselves in eight other equally scary stories - it highlights just how gruesome the original fairy tales were written. Selick helped adapt the screenplay along with Jon Gunn and John W. Mann (the writing duo also wrote the upcoming movies B.O.O., Magic 8 Ball and The Nutcracker).

While Selick is best known for his animated work (including James and the Giant Peach), he has directed a live-action movies before - the Brendan Fraser-starrer Monkeybone.

Interesting, the illustrator for the book, "A Tale Dark & Grimm" said he was instructed to make the artwork "Coraline-ish.

Last year, FilmNation Entertainment acquired the feature film rights to Adam Gidwitz’s novel, A Tale Dark & Grimm. The project is now moving forward with Henry Selick (A Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline) set to direct.

Published in 2010, the novel follows Hansel and Gretel’s adventures in other classic fairy tales:

“Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm (and Grimm-inspired) fairy tales. An irreverent, witty narrator leads us through encounters with witches, warlocks, dragons, and the devil himself. As the siblings roam a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind the famous tales, as well as how to take charge of their destinies and create their own happily ever after. Because once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.”

This news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, who says that Selick will also be contributing to the screenplay written...

Breaking: Henry Selick will direct A Tale Dark & Grimm, a live action flm based on the popular children’s book by author Adam Gidwitz, who put his own take on some of the Grimm Brothers’ more gruesome stories. Tale follows two unsuspecting children who run away from their own dark fairy tale in search of a better life only to find themselves amidst eight other tales just as fearsome. Selick helmed the stop motioners A Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Coraline. Marissa McMahon of Kamala Films will finance the development and produce alongside FilmNation Entertainment’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. John W. Mann and Jon Gunn adapted the script. “I remain completely enraptured by Adam Gidwitz’ marvelous book A Tale Dark & Grimm,” said Selick. “It’s a hilarious, deeply inventive tale about survival in the world of fairytales and what it takes to forgive one’s parents.

Coraline director Henry Selick has signed on to direct A Tale Dark & Grimm, a live-action film based on Adam Gidwitz's children's novel. Inspired by the Grimm fairy tales, the story follows two children who run away from their own dark fairy tale in hopes of finding a happier life, but they end up landing in eight other terrible tales. John W. Mann and Jon Gunn (who also penned upcoming film B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations) adapted the screenplay with Selick to contribute to the script. Selick has plenty of experience bringing darker children's stories to life.

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Announced for development by FilmNation Entertainment last year , the planned big screen adaptation of Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark & Grimm has found a director in Henry Selick, Screen Daily reports. Selick is best known as the man behind modern stop-motion classics like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline . Planned as a live action feature film, A Tale Dark & Grimm will be based on Gidwitz.s original frightening and witty stories. Inspired by some of Grimm's more gruesome tales, the story, adapted by Selick, Jon Gunn and John W. Mann, follows the adventures of two unsuspecting children who hold the key to breaking out of the dark ages. Selick, whose next, The Shadow King , was picked up by K5 International earlier this year , previously worked with live...

The new twist on old fairy tales trend continues with the kids book "A Tale Dark & Grimm" being adapted into a feature film by FilmNation (Lawless, The King's Speech). In it, Hansel and Gretel step out of their own tragic fable and into eight other Brothers Grimm stories. Jon Gunn and John Mann will adapt the screenplay - they are the writers behind notable, although so far unmade, scripts like Magic 8 Ball, Boo U and The Nutcracker.

Source: Variety...

Children's literature looks to be the new big thing.

FilmNation Entertainment and Kamala Films have acquired the film rights to Adam Gidwitz's popular children’s book "A Tale Dark & Grim" and plan to adapt it into a live action family feature.

Inspired by some of Grimm's most gruesome tales, the story follows the adventures of two unsuspecting children who hold the key to breaking out of the dark ages.

Aaron Ryder, Marissa McMahon and Karen Lunder will produce. Jon Gunn and John W. Mann will adapt the screenplay.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Pictures have optioned the film rights to Dan Gutman's "Spy Kids"-esque best-selling children's book series "The Genius Files" says Variety.

The books follow two pre-adolescent brothers (Coke and Pepsi McDonald) who get into a series of adventures in the name of national security, all while keeping their activities a secret from their parents.

The third of a...

FilmNation Entertainment has acquired the feature film rights to the popular children's book A Tale Dark & Grimm by author Adam Gidwitz. FilmNation will partner with Marissa McMahon of Kamala Films to finance the development and produce alongside FilmNation Entertainment's Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Jon Gunn (Mercy Streets, My Date With Drew) and John Mann (Mercy Streets) are confirmed to adapt the screenplay.

Currently in development, the live action feature film will be based on Gidwitz's original frightening and witty stories. Inspired by some of Grimm's more gruesome tales, the story follows the adventures of two unsuspecting children who hold the key to breaking out of the dark ages.

FilmNation Entertainment's Aaron Ryder said: "We have been searching for distinctive source material for our first family project. We found this in Gidwitz's witty manuscript and look forward to nurturing the project with our partners at Kamala Films."

Currently,...

Some pretty nifty news is coming out of Toronto as word of another adaptation has hit the interwebs with a dark and grim thud. Read on to find out what's next for you fine fiends from FilmNation. Dig it!

THR reports FilmNation Entertainment and Kamala Films are teaming to turn Adam Gidwitz's popular children's book A Tale Dark & Grimm into a live-action feature. Jon Gunn (My Date With Drew) and John W. Mann (Mercy Streets) will write the adapted screenplay.

Gidwtiz's original frightening and witty story -- inspired by the Brothers Grimm -- follows the adventures of two unsuspecting children who hold the key to breaking out of the Dark Ages. FilmNation has acquired film rights to the book and will partner with Marissa McMahon of Kamala Films in financing and producing Dark & Grimm alongside FilmNation Entertainment's Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder.

More as it comes.

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Toronto -- FilmNation Entertainment and Kamala Films are teaming to turn Adam Gidwitz's popular children's book A Tale Dark & Grimm into a live-action feature. Jon Gunn (My Date With Drew) and John W. Mann (Mercy Streets) will write the adapted screenplay. Story: Toronto 2012: Exclusive Media Makes Bold Foray Into U.S. Distribution Gidwtiz's original frightening and witty story -- inspired by the Brothers Grimm -- follows the adventures of two unsuspecting children who hold the key to breaking out of the Dark Ages. FilmNation has acquired film rights to the book and will partner with Marissa McMahon of Kamala Films

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FilmNation Entertainment has acquired the feature film rights to the popular children’s book A Tale Dark & Grimm by author Adam Gidwitz. FilmNation will partner with Marissa McMahon of Kamala Films to finance the development and produce alongside FilmNation Entertainment’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Jon Gunn (Mercy Streets, My Date with Drew) and John W. Mann (Mercy Streets) are confirmed to adapt the screenplay. Currently in development, the live action feature film will be based on Gidwitz’s original frightening and witty stories. Inspired by some of Grimm’s more gruesome tales, the story follows the adventures of two unsuspecting children who hold the key to breaking out of the dark ages. FilmNation Entertainment’s Aaron Ryder said: “We have been searching for distinctive source material for our first family project. We found this in Gidwitz’s witty manuscript and look forward to nurturing the project with our partners at Kamala Films.

A new Nutcracker's coming to town, one chalk full of Action and Explosions. Alas, that's actually not true. But Universal has just picked up the rights to a new version of The Nutcracker, headed by John Mann (Magic 8 Ball) and Jon Gunn and produced by Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes guys Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark. The film, a live-action adventure take on the classic tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, "centers on a 12-year-old girl who, with her brother and sister, receive...

Has the world learned nothing from the most recent attempt to shove the story of The Nutcracker on to our screens? You might recall – or most likely have buried the painful memories of – critical and commercial misfire The Nutcracker in 3D. Universal will certainly be hoping we all have, as the studio is nabbed a pitch for a new, live-action adaptation.Rise of the Planet of the Apes producing team Peter Chernin and Dylan Clarke are spearheading the new version, which will come from the keyboards of John Mann and Jon Gunn, who have together written Boo U for DreamWorks and a film based around the Magic 8 Ball toy for Paramount.They’ll spin what the executives now hope will be a fresh look at the familiar story of the 12-year-old girl who, along with her older brother and sister, is given a Nutcracker doll by her inventor/clockmaker grandfather.

Universal has plans to re-adapt the classic story of The Nutcracker with a new pitch on the material from Jon Gunn and John Mann. The pair, who originally teamed for the 2000 film Mercy Streets , developed the idea for their take alongside producer Peter Chernin, though details on their slant are currently unknown. Most famously adapted as a ballet by Tchaikovsky in the late 19th century, the tale originated as a short story by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. In it, a young girl's dolls come to life on Christmas Eve alongside a noble nutcracker, who protects her from a villainous army of mice.

I really wish this shocked me. Battleship, Monopoly and View-master just weren’t pushing the toy-to-movie trend far enough. Now, Paramount Pictures has optioned Mattel’s Magic 8 Ball for a live action adventure film. There are no details on what the story might be about, but Jon Gunn and John Mann (Mercy Streets) are writing the screenplay.

Deadline reports that the deal is being put in place by Paramount Motion Picture Group president Adam Goodman, and will be produced by Brad Weston. Mattel’s Tim Kilpin and Barry Waldo are executive producers on the project.

Just in case you were abused as a child and weren’t provided toys – the Magic 8-Ball is a round, plastic object resembling an over-sized 8-ball in billiards that contains a 20-sided die floating in mystery liquid. You ask it a question, shake the 8-ball and small window displays one of 20 standard answers on the die.

Paramount Pictures is setting up a film based on the classic fortune-telling toy - Mattel's Magic 8 Ball.

According to Vulture, Jon Gunn and John Mann ("My Date With Drew") are writing the script which aims to become a "National Treasure"-style action-adventure family franchise.

Brad Weston will produce. Tom Shadyac ("Liar, Liar") was originally onboard to develop the project for Universal back in 2006 but neither he or that studio is involved any longer.

In Hollywood, a magic 8-ball used to just be a vial of cocaine that allowed producers to think they're flying. But now it's also going to be a movie about an oversize billiard ball with a blue liquid-immersed 20-sided die inside it that enables indecisive people to make important life choices. For example, some exec at Paramount asked one, "should we make a movie based on the Magic 8-Ball novelty toy?" And it answered, "My reply is no." So the studio exec put the greenlight on it faster than he could snort a line.

Is the idea of a Magic 8-Ball movie surprising? To be honest, I thought this project had already been announced back when everyone was foretelling what other games and toys would follow Monopoly, Battleship, Ouija Board, Stretch Armstrong, etc., into multiplexes. Now it just seems like everyone's unveiling the appropriate 8-ball-related snark they've been working on...

Back in 2006, Universal Pictures was working with director Tom Shadyac (Bruce Almighty) to turn the Magic 8 Ball toy into a romantic comedy. Nothing came of that. Now that every single toy is being turned into a feature film (Battleship, Ouija Board), Paramount Pictures has decided that it's the perfect time for a Magic 8 Ball movie. The studio separated from Shadyac and assigned its former production chief Brad Weston to head up the project. NY Magazine has learned that the plan is to turn the Magic 8 Ball into an action-adventure movie similar to "National Treasure." And Weston has already hired screenwriters Jon Gunn and John Mann (Mercy Streets, Boo U.) to pen the script. For those not familiar with the toy, it is basically an over-sized black-and-white billiard ball that gives one of twenty alternately affirmative, negative, or noncommittal answers.

Magic 8 Ball film is happening Way back in 2006 we reported that Universal was setting up a film based off the Magic 8 Ball toy. Now it seems the film is actually happening, but at another studio. Vulture is reporting that Paramount is setting up the Magic 8 Ball film.

The initial 2006 report stated that Tom Shadyac was developing the project, but he's no longer involved and Paramount has picked up the project, with Brad Weston on board as a producer with Jon Gunn and John Mann (My Date With Drew) writing the script. Here's an excerpt from the article which describes the studio's plans.

The Paramount plan, we hear, is to turn Magic 8 Ball into a sort of live-action National Treasure-style action-adventure movie.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on any developments surrounding the Magic 8 Ball movie as soon as we have more information.

Just when you thought Hollywood had decided to rein in some of these insanely idiotic toy and board game movie announcements, Paramount and Mattel have gone ahead and dreamed up another winner. According to Deadline New York [1], the two companies have worked out a deal to give the Magic 8 Ball toy its very own feature film. Jon Gunn and John Mann (Boo U.) will write the script, which is being described as a "live action adventure film." The first thing that comes to mind in thinking about this project is that it would actually make a perfect double bill with the upcoming Platinum Dunes Ouija Board movie (which, it was recently revealed, will be more action-adventure than horror [2]). Obviously they are both playthings that involve mystical prognostications, although one communicates with spirits while the other simply offers one of 20 pre-defined predictions. I'll spare you the jokes about the film's outlook,...

There really isn't any more appropriate time to say "jump the shark" or the more recent incarnation "nuke the fridge", as Paramount is really taking things too far with this Hollywood obsession of adapting toys into feature length films. Vulture reports that the studio responsible for toy-based movies Transformers and G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra is scraping the bottom of the barrel in their preparation of a live-action adventure film based around Mattel's divination driven toy The Magic 8 Ball, a hollow, plastic sphere that upon being shaken offers affirmative, negative or non-committal answers to questions courtesy of a 20-sided die inside. Jon Gunn & John Mann (who are currently writing Boo U., a film about a ghost who's sent to school to learn how to become a more frightening specter) will be scripting this action adventure flick that will be crafted in the same vein as National Treasure. Maybe the...