Tomb Raider Writers to Adapt 'Young Merlin' for Disney

[crazy4wdw]

From the Hollywood Reporter:

'Tomb Raider' Writers to Adapt 'Young Merlin' for Disney

12:09 PM PDT 3/26/2014 by Borys Kit

"Life of Pi" producer Gil Netter is on board to produce the adaptation of the T.A. Barron book series.

Patrick Massett and John Zinman, the scribes who wrote Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, have been tapped to pen the adaptation of The Lost Years of Merlin, the YA book series written by T.A. Barron.

Gil Netter (Life of Pi, The Blind Side) is producing.

Disney’s movie adaptation is being titled Young Merlin at this stage. The books centered on a teen who will one day be the powerful mage who sits at the right hand of King Arthur. But first he has many lessons to master, including how to temper his darker leanings and his pride.

Much of the action takes place on the enchanted isle of Fincayra, where the teen wizard embarks on many a quest with female companion Rhia and wannabe jester Bumbelwy. The antagonist is Rhita Gawr, a spirit world warlord.

Over the years, several other companies have tried to mount an adaptation of the books, including Miramax, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing, and Paramount, where Simon Kinberg was working on it. As late as 2011, Warner Bros. was developing a script with Donald De Line producing.

Zinman and Massett wrote the indie drama Gold, which landed on the Black List and had Michael Mann attached at one point. They also worked on Go Like Hell, which has Joseph Kosinski attached to direct, Tom Cruise attached to star and Brad Pitt circling to join them.

 

[Figmentforever24]

From the Hollywood Reporter:

Are we being serious about this or is this another joke?

 

[crazy4wdw]

No, this is not an April Fool's Day joke.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/tomb-raider-writers-adapt-young-691394

 

[Twin Dad]

Are we being serious about this or is this another joke?

The date line is from March. I think it's legit. Also Disney needs a new young teen franchise since there won't be a third Percy Jackson.

 

[bigdisz]

I think that would be very stupid for Disney to do. The BBC show, THE ADVENTURES OF MERLIN ended last year. They had five seasons and its a very popular show. I dont think it would be wise to give that fan base another view on the famous characters from Arthurian legend. I would not like it. Whenever I think of young merlin, I think of Colin Morgan, young Arthur is Bradley James

 

[DummbGiRL]

Although I loved The BBC'sMerlin that ended last year, I could definitely love a Disney take on bringing him and his story more into the realm and parks. I mean I loved "The Sword and the Stone" first before BBC's (or countless other SyFy versions), so why would this prevent me from loving another version of the story? I'm all for magical stories!