Published at: Jan. 8, 2011, 5:50 p.m. CST by AICNStaff
Nordling here.
Summit Entertainment, the studio that brought the TWILIGHT Saga to the screen, has just acquired world rights to another youth-oriented novel to adapt.
According to Deadline, Summit now has the rights to THE NIGHT CIRCUS, a novel by Erin Morganstern to be published this September. The story concerns two dueling illusionists in the 1800s carrying on their fathers' rivalry in an enchanted circus, but matters become complicated when they fall in love.
Sounds like THE PRESTIGE or CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL for young folk (both very good novels, by the way). According to the article they are looking for a film release and then possibly a television series. If we go by track record, Summit knows how to promote and produce these kinds of stories. No release date as of yet; likely Summit is waiting to see how well the novel does on release, but according to the article Summit sounds confident in the story. Head of production Erik Feig said in a statement, "THE NIGHT CIRCUS sets a spell on the reader from the very first page and we cannot wait to find the right filmmaker and cast to make the world come as inordinately alive as it does in the mind's eye."
I really enjoy stories like this - Houdini, 19th Century magicians, and the like. Hopefully Summit will make something interesting and not just fodder for screaming tweens, but it sounds like they have confidence in the material.
