Mark Burnett is embarking on a new film adventure, snatching up the feature rights to the children's fantasy book series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel". First volume in author Michael Scott's six-part series, dubbed "The Alchemyst," will be published by Random House Children's Books in May reports Variety.
The Flamel character - possibly a real 15th century French alchemist - has been mentioned in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" books and films. Scott's take on Flamel brings the immortal character into the 21st century, where he's a 600-year-old man (who looks to be 50) living in San Francisco. Books focus on Sophie and Josh Newman, a pair of teenage fraternal twins who find themselves caught up in an age-old battle between good and evil.
Early books have the twins racing across America, learning the ancient ways of magic even as they're hunted by creatures and beings from the mythologies of a dozen nations. Flamel serves as their teacher and guide. Burnett plans to begin talking with potential studios in the next few weeks about coming aboard to produce.
