Septimus Heap: Magyk to the big screen
What do you when your Harry Potter series is almost finished? How do you find another property to generate billions in ticket sales?
If you’re Warner Bros., you find another fantasy franchise. And they have. According to a press release, the studio has acquired the Septimus Heap books, written by English author Angie Sage, for films. The first, Septimus Heap: Magyk, will be produced by Karen Rosenfeltt, who produced the equally unbelievable The Devil Wears Prada. Sage will be an Executive Producer.
According to the press release, "The series tells the story of two babies that are switched at birth: one, a boy who discovers his birthright as the seventh son of a seventh son, and ultimately, a powerful wizard; the other, a girl who is destined to become Princess. Their stories are set in a weird and wonderful fairy-tale England and their journeys of self-discovery are filled with hilarious characters and clever charms, potions and spells."
The series has sold more than a million copies in the United States, and is published in 28 languages.
Any attempt to find "the next Harry Potter" will be met with failure. The next hot kids book will come from a new source, and will in a new genre. The Potter books were a true left-field job, only whipped into a frenzy with book four onward. I don't think we'll see something that big in a while.I'm hoping the Artemis Fowl books make it to the screen, myself. That kid in the Nancy Drew movie and License to Wed is my new "go-to" child actor (I also think he oughta be Spritle in Speed Racer) now that Spencer Breslin is too old.