Fox Animation has acquired the Zita The Spacegirl trilogy of books from award-winning author Ben Hatke for Chernin Entertainment to produce. Screenwriting duo Morgan Jurgenson and Alex Ankeles will adapt the books that follow Zita as she leaps to the rescue when her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult – taking on humanoid chickens, ancient prophecies, doomed planets, and a mystery man along the way who takes a secret interest in her myriad quests.

Darlene Caamano Loquet will oversee the project for Fox Animation which plans to turn the popular children’s books into a feature film.

Hatke is the author of such children’s titles as Nobody Likes A Goblin and Julia’s House For Lost Creatures. He was also the recent recipient of the prestigious Eisner Award.

Jurgenson and Ankeles’ writing credits include Hyperdrive for Paramount, Subdivision for Universal, and Dead Run for Lionsgate. Jurgenson also penned the cult horror comedy Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil.

Hatke is repped by APA, Hansen Literary, and Jackoway Tyerman. Jurgenson is repped by APA, Jonathan Hung, and attorney Rob Szymanski. Ankeles is repped by CAA, Kaplan/Perrone and attorney Stephen Clark.