Walden Media Fast-Tracks Three Children's Projects
February 5, 2004By JEREMY KAY in Los Angeles
ScreenDaily.com
Fast-tracking three children's projects, Walden Media has acquired rights to Katherine Paterson's Newbery Award-winning novel Bridge To Terabithia and Australian author Wendy Orr's award-winner Nim's Island and has signed Antz writer Todd Alcott to adapt Lois Lowry's Newbery Award-winner The Giver.
The company has partnered with Jeff Bridges and his AsIs Productions and RCN Entertainment (RCNE) to produce.
"These three projects are consistent with the overall Walden Media mission to create quality entertainment that engages and enlightens the audience," Walden Media chief executive officer Cary Granat said in a statement.
"Walden continues to develop films and accompanying educational outreach programs that will carry forth the vision of these authors who have entrusted us with their work."
Gabor Csupo, who produced Rugrats Go Wild! and The Wild Thornberry's Movie, is set to direct Bridge To Terabithia as his first live action project. The story centres on two young friends who draw on their imaginary world to cope with a tragedy.
No director is attached as yet to Nim's Island, which will be produced by Paula Mazur and concerns the trials and tribulations of a young girl stranded on an island.
In The Giver, a boy living in a future world faces a decision when he is assigned to inherit the mantle of The Giver, a powerful entity who presides over a huge store of banned human emotions.
Last year Walden Media in association with The Walt Disney Company released the children's hit Holes and Ghosts Of The Abyss. Upcoming releases include Around The World In 80 Days (also with Disney) and the company is currently developing C S Lewis' The Chronicles Of Narnia.
