Dan Lin of Lin Pictures and Animal Logic are producing the adaptation of the fantasy series, the rights to which Warners picked up in 2008.

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The comic follows three cousins from the Bone family, small, bald and humanlike creatures with big noses. The trio are run out of their hometown and find themselves in a mysterious valley where they are separated and hunted by other creatures. They are taken in by a girl named Thorn and her grandmother, and they find out that the valley is threatened by an evil force called the Lord of the Locusts.

The comics were published from 1991 to 2004 but were rediscovered by a new generation when Scholastic began putting out trade paperbacks (aka the graphic novel format), selling million copies.

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Justin Monjo and Hogan previously wrote seperately on the project, which has Lin Pictures' Jon Silk co-producing.

Hogan will likely polish the script after Smith and the plan is for him to direct the movie in Australia, the home of both Hogan and Animal Logic. The company was the animation house behind Happy Feet and Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.

Smith, repped by CAA, wrote for such Warner Bros. Television shows as Everwood and Summerland before going to create Greek, which is set in the world of fraternities and sororities. He also acted as an exec producer on ABC Family’s teen sci-fi series Kyle XY.

CAA-repped Hogan wrote and directed Muriel’s Wedding as well as 2003’s Peter Pan. He also helmed My Best Friend’s Wedding and, more recently, Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com

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