Universal Studios has optioned Everlost, an adaptation of the book by Neal Shusterman, just one of a number of family-friendly fantasy-based projects cooking on the Uni stove at the moment.
The book, just published in August (and getting excellent reviews, I might add), centers on two young teens, Allie and Nick, both passengers in separate cars that collide. The two meet up in a strange limbo-like "other world," where they don't know if they're alive or dead. Unfortunately for them, they're dead. They try to navigate their way through this strange land, meeting friend and foe along the way, including children from other time periods. Pretty trippy stuff, especially confronting death head-on in a young adult novel.
According to Variety, Gary Ross, through his Larger Than Life company, hopes to direct the film. Life's Allison Thomas said "We liked the characters, and the idea that it was an action adventure story that had no wizards or dragons, that wasn't driven by magic like so many of these films are... This is an alternative universe, almost Peter Pan-ish, with its own set of rules and two strong lead characters trying to find their way back to their families."
And of course, the book is the first in a planned series.... I smell a film franchise!
