HBO, Scott Rudin Adapting 'Swamplandia' (Exclusive)

UPDATED: A search is under way to find a writer to pen the project based on the book by Karen Russell.

HBO is going to Florida with Scott Rudin.

The premium cable network has picked up Swamplandia, a half-hour comedy project from Rudin based on Karen Russell's book of the same name.

Swamplandia revolves around Ava Bigtree, a 12-year-old alligator wrestler who embarks on an improbable journey through the mangrove wilderness of southwest Florida as she searches for her lost sister.

A search is under way for a writer on the project, with Rudin attached to executive produce the comedy and author Russell consulting.

Feature producer Rudin (The Social Network) has several projects set up at HBO, including Aaron Sorkin's untitled cable news drama with Jeff Daniels, which was picked up to series in September.

In addition, Rudin is attached to Noah Baumbach's adaptation of Jonathan Frazen's The Corrections and Cynthia Mort's half-hour comedy based on scribe Mary Karr's life.

Swamplandia marks Russell's first novel and second book overall. Her work has appeared in the anthology The Best American Short Stories and The New Yorker, among others.

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