Though it’s become commonplace for studios to get the wheels turning on sequels to potential franchise-starters before those films have hit theaters, Constantin Films has begun work on a prequel to their upcoming YA adaptation The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones ahead of that film’s August release. Based on the popular Cassandra Clare book series, City of Bones tells the story of Clary Fray (Lily Collins), a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers that she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret organization of young half-angel warriors in an ancient battle to protect our world from demons. Now Constantin is turning to the prequel book series Infernal Devices for yet another potential film franchise. Hit the jump for more.
Per Heat Vision, Constantin has hired actress-turned-screenwriter Stephanie Sanditz to pen an adaptation of Infernal Devices and the search for a director is currently underway. The novel takes place in Victorian England and tells the story of a new teen girl “plunged into a journey of adventure and self-discovery.” There are currently three books in the Infernal Devices series—Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess. The novels feature character overlap with the Mortal Instruments series, which currently boasts five novels with a sixth set for release next spring.
I’m a bit confused as to why Constantin would set up an entire franchise with City of Bones centered around Lily Collins, only to move forward with a new set of characters for the follow-up film. This is especially surprising in the wake of the box office failure of other fantasy-based YA adaptations like The Host and Beautiful Creatures. If Mortal Instruments doesn’t strike a chord with audiences this summer, it’ll be interesting to see how Constantin Films proceeds. Read a synopsis for the first book in the Infernal Devices series, Clockwork Angel, below.
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all. [Amazon]