Irish author lands movie deal as next Harry Potter
Derek Landy hailed as the next JK Rowling
Sunday May 27 2007
Derek Landy has already been hailed as the next JK Rowling for Skulduggery Pleasant, his critically acclaimed children’s books.
Now Warner Bros, who produce the Harry Potter movies, are hoping Landy can pick up from where JK Rowling has left off and the series will become the next big franchise.
It is understood the deal is worth around €750,000 and includes rights to all future books in the potential nine-book series.
Derek will continue to play a central role in the film adaptation of his book as the deal lets him work on the film script for the first instalment.
Set in contemporary Dublin, the comic-horror-adventure novel is about a wisecracking skeleton detective, named Skulduggery Pleasant, and his young accomplice Stephanie.
EVIL
Together they must prevent an attempt to bring back the evil Faceless Ones.
The book was acquired globally by HarperCollins after a major bidding war and released six weeks ago.
Landy’s debut has been been gaining momentum in the children’s literature world and is being translated into 25 languages.
Landy, who grew up on comic books, computer games and martial arts and has a black belt in kenpo karate, wrote horror screenplays before turning his attention to books.
Derek’s deal comes just six months after filming on Cecelia Ahern’s novel PS I Love You started in Ireland.
The film was shot on location in New York and Wicklow and stars Oscar winning actress Hilary Swank and Friends star Lisa Kudrow.
It is expected to be released at the end of this year and is tipped to be a major success.
- Jane Last
