With the Twilight films winding down and the first movie of The Hunger Games adaptations set for 2012, studios are looking for the next franchise to bolster their revenues. Paramount has tagged Twilight series screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg to write and produce an adaptation of Earthseed, a young adult sci-fi novel by Pamela Sargent. The 1983 novel revolves around children living aboard a spaceship that is traveling in search of other habitable worlds. The kids, growing up without parents, have to learn to coexist in an Earth-like simulation aboard the ship. Two sequels to Earthseed have recently been penned by Sargent, which makes the franchise all the more attractive to adapt.
Hit the jump for more from Rosenberg and a full synopsis of Earthseed. [Update: We've been sent the full press release and included it after the jump].
In talking to THR, Rosenberg discusses Earthseed and her interpretation of the source material:
“It really talks about the debate of nature vs. nurture, what is innately human and what can be bred in or out of someone. There’s a Lord of the Flies element to it. It involves a young woman who starts off as someone who is content with playing by the rules and being a ‘good girl,’ and then has to realize that the rules are malleable and that she has to step forward as a leader. It’s really about coming into one’s own power and embracing one’s own strength and individuality."
Rosenberg, who has extensive credits producing for television, has been the writer for the entire Twilight series, which will easily gross over $2 billion worldwide when the last two installments hit the theaters in 2011 and 2012. Earthseed looks to be the first project in Rosenberg’s newly launched production company, Tall Girls Productions.
“What I want for Tall Girls is to be creating great, strong roles for women, but in four-quadrant, high-concept movies. Not movies for women in the traditional sense but more interesting, intriguing, complex roles—and kickass women, as well. That is definitely this book.”
For those unfamiliar with Earthseed, here’s the synopsis of the novel [Amazon]:
Ship hurtles through space. Deep within its core, it carries the seed of humankind. Launched by the people of a dying Earth over a century ago, its mission is to find a habitable world for the children--fifteen-year-old Zoheret and her shipmates--whom it has created from its genetic banks.
To Zoheret and her shipmates, Ship has been mother, father, and loving teacher, preparing them for their biggest challenge: to survive on their own, on an uninhabited planet, without Ship's protection. Now that day is almost upon them...but are they ready to leave Ship? Ship devises a test. And suddenly, instincts that have been latent for over a hundred years take over. Zoheret watches as friends become strangers--and enemies. Can Zoheret and her companions overcome the biggest obstacle to the survival of the human race--themselves?
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Here's the official press release:
PARAMOUNT PICTURES OPTIONS EARTHSEED
HOLLYWOOD, CA (March 29, 2011) – Paramount Pictures Film Group President Adam Goodman today announced that the studio has optioned the novel EARTHSEED, with Melissa Rosenberg (“Twilight,” “Dexter,” “Highlander”) attached to pen the script and produce through her Tall Girls Productions.
Set in the future, Earthseed, written in 1983 by Pamela Sargent, was the first book in the young adult trilogy that also included Farseed, published in 2007, and Seed Seeker, published in 2010. The plot centers around a group of teenagers who have been born without traditional parents from the genetic bank of a spaceship. Earthseed is a Tor Book, Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
“Ever since I was a kid, it’s been a goal of mine to see EARTHSEED get to the screen in an awesome way. To have Melissa Rosenberg and her Tall Girls company writing and producing this material is truly a dream. There is no better voice for this material, in fact I just want to see the movie now!!!” Said Goodman.
Said Rosenberg: “EARTHSEED is an incredibly compelling world and I'm excited to dive into it. The film’s premise easily lends itself to an exciting franchise with plenty of room for invention and humor. I’m drawn to complex female characters in compelling high concept stories, and this is the perfect first movie for me to produce under my Tall Girls Productions banner.”
Rosenberg has scripted all five Twilight films and is currently writing “Highlander” for Summit. She is also actively developing “AKA Jessica Jones” for ABC and has spent four years as producer and head writer on Showtime’s “Dexter.” She is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Management.