Getty Images
Actor-turned-bestselling-author Chris Colfer has a big new project: adapting his own book THE LAND OF STORIES, which has been acquired by 20th Century Fox, the Tracking Board has confirmed. Colfer will not only be penning the script, however, he’ll also be making his directorial debut for the project. 21 Laps Entertainment and Shawn Levy are teaming with the studio for the film.
The studio and writer-director will be adapting the first book in the series, The Wishing Spell, which follows twins Alex and Conner Bailey who find themselves transported into a book of fairy tales (a gift from their grandmother) after the death of their father. Alex and Conner must navigate the magical realm and combat dark forces in order to return home.
The book was first published in 2012 (while Colfer was still on the Fox series Glee) and remained on the New York Times Bestseller list for five weeks, placing at number one for two of those weeks. It was also named one of Barnes & Nobles’ Best Books of 2012. Overall, Land of Stories has come to include picture books, audiobooks, and an upcoming graphic novel. The sixth and final book in the series, Worlds Collide, will be published on July 11.
Dan Levine of 21 Laps will co-produce with Levy, while Colfer and Rob Weisbach will executive produce. Fox’s Kira Goldberg will oversee for the studio. The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news of this story.
21 Laps’ most recent projects include the award-winning Arrival and comedies Why Him? and Fist Fight. They’re currently in production on Season 2 of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.
Colfer is best known for his role as Kurt Hummel on Glee, for which he won a Golden Globe. He’s currently in production on the film Since My Life Began. His other books include Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal and Stranger Than Fanfiction. He’s repped by ICM, Coast to Coast Talent, Hamilton Hodell in the U.K., and Rob Weisbach Creative Management.
Anya Crittenton | Associate Editor
