| Articles: Dangerous Angels to become Fox Franchise | ||
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| Fox Searchlight Batty for Weetzie "Dangerous Angels," Francesca Lia Block's ultrahip young-adult book series featuring L.A. teenager Weetzie Bat and a cast of surfers, rave kids, ghosts and fairies, is about to become a Fox franchise. Fox Searchlight has optioned the series in a deal that could hit seven figures, with merchandising rights going to the studio. Block is adapting the series, and Theresa Duncan, a Gotham-based digital media artist and director, is in talks with Fox to helm the feature as part of a two-pic deal with the studio. Block is an unsung godmother of the crossover market for young-adult books that, in the wake of Harry Potter, has become the rage of Hollywood and the Gotham book trade. With their abundant references to music, fashion, food and sex, the Weetzie Bat books have long struck a nerve with adult readers. And the series -- originally published as mass market paperbacks with trippy titles such as "Witch Baby" and "Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys," but recently repackaged in one volume by her longtime publisher, HarperCollins -- has long drawn interest in Hollywood. Directors Tim Burton and David Lynch have tried to develop the series without success. Block has often been approached about merchandising and clothing tie-ins, but has never before signed away those rights. Block is developing an MTV series, "Shadow Grove," and there's keen TV interest in another book of hers, "I Was a Teenage Fairy." The success of the series, says agent Lydia Wills, who reps Block with Writers & Artists, rests in part on its refusal to pander to teens. "Francesca has always spoken to her audience, especially the teen girl audience, with great respect and has taken their concerns, fears and hopes seriously. TV and books are just starting to do that now." At a time when studios are trying to capture the teen girl audience -- with varying success, as pointed up by the slow bow of "Josie and the Pussycats" --Fox Searchlight is rolling the dice in hopes that Block can translate that skill to the bigscreen. Variety.com Jonathan Bing April 17, 2001 Title: Dangerous Angels Log line: Follows the adventures of Weetzie Bat and her friends which include surfers, rave kids, ghosts and fairies. Writer: Francesca Lia Block Agent: Writers & Artists' Lydia Wills Buyer: Fox Searchlight Price: Seven-figures Genre: Teenage drama Logged: 4/18/01 More: Block will adapt from her own book series. Theresa Duncan will direct, as part of a two-pic deal with the studio. ScriptSales.com April 18, 2001 Francesca Lia Block’s young-adult book series, Dangerous Angels, has been optioned by Fox Searchlight according to Variety. The series, which has strong appeal to teenage girls, is centered on the character of Weetzie Bat, who is surrounded by a cast of surfers, rave kids, ghosts, and fairies. The series also features the gay characters Duck and Dirk. The novels exhibit crossover appeal, however, and their abundant references to music, fashion, food, and sex resonate with adult readers. Both David Lynch and Tim Burton have expressed interest in developing the series in the past. PlanetOut.com April 20, 2001 |
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