Immortal Nicholas Flamel

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Burnett Adapting Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Source: Variety September 14, 2006


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."

The first volume in author Michael Scott's six-part series, dubbed "The Alchemyst," will be published by Random House Children's Books in May. The "Survivor" guru plans to begin talking with potential studios in the next few weeks about coming aboard to produce.

Burnett, who's read "The Alchemyst" as well as the first chapter in the series' second volume, said Scott's books "have the scope of 'The Lord of the Rings' and the charm and intrigue of 'Harry Potter.' "

The Flamel character -- possibly a real 15th century French alchemist --carries a bit of name recognition in the fantasy book-reading crowd. Most recently, J.K. Rowling has mentioned him in her "Harry Potter" books, making Flamel a friend of Albus Dumbledore.

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. The 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.

 

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New Line Boards Burnett's Nicholas Flamel
Source: Variety November 21, 2006


New Line Cinema has made a deal for Michael Scott-penned fantasy series The Immortal Nicholas Flamel, reports Variety. Mark Burnett will produce what he and the studio hope will be a six-picture franchise.

Burnett, the producer of reality shows "Survivor," "The Apprentice" and "Rock Star," used his own money to land the book series rights in an auction held in the early fall. The studio and Burnett will set a writer to adapt "The Alchemyst," the first title in a series to be published by Random House Children's Books next May.

Two teenage twins find themselves in the adventure of a lifetime when legendary alchemist Nicholas Flamel loses a book holding secrets that could spell the doom of humanity if the novel falls into the wrong hands.