EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures and Marc Platt have snapped up feature rights to The Prince and the Dressmaker, a graphic novel from Jen Wang which has crossover YA elements in it and in more ways than one. The story is a sweet one, it is about the friendship between a seamstress named Frances and a Prince named Sebastian, whose parents are looking for a bride for him. We were told this was a competitive bidding situation.

However, at night, the Prince transforms: he puts on a red wig and his friend Frances’ beautiful ballgowns and goes out in Paris as Lady Crystallia — the hottest fashion icon in the city where fashion is king … or queen.

The feel-good story about two people who have a mutual admiration for design, illustrates that yes, sometimes boys wear dresses. The conflict comes when Frances realizes that she cannot be someone’s secret designer forever and she wants to realize her dreams. At the same time, she doesn’t want to hurt her friend who already has his hands full with his parents.

The book, which examines identity, love, family relationships and sexuality, was brought into the company by Marc Platt Productions’ Adam Siegel (Drive). Senior VP of production Kristin Lowe will oversee production on behalf of Universal Pictures.

This comes just a month after Lionsgate optioned the book How the Girls Guides Won The War from author J. Mills Goodloe for the production company.

Wang is repped by APA, Hansen Literary Management and law firm Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum.