Columbia goes for a ‘Maximum Ride’
Friday, August 8, 2008 at 10:23AM | By Franck Tabouring 
Columbia Pictures is all set and ready to develop a big-screen franchise based on James Patterson’s best-selling novel series “Maximum Ride,” according to Variety.
The story focuses on six kids who underwent genetic modification to be 98 percent human and 2 percent bird. After escaping from the laboratories they’re held at, the children are pursued by a gang of werewolves sent to track them down.
Don Payne, screenwriter of “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” and “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” is writing the script.
Producer Avi Arad thinks “Maximum Ride” would make a good big-screen franchise. "The ‘Maximum Ride’ books use man-made mutation as a metaphor of humans trying to take advantage of human frailty and interfere with nature," he told Variety.
I guess Arad knows what he’s talking about. After all, he’s a big-time Hollywood producer who worked on films such as “Spider-Man,” “X-Men” and “Iron Man.”
As far as the story goes, I never read any of Patterson’s books and can't comment on them. Have you? Let me know what you think.
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Reader Comments (22)
you are crazy if you havent read those books they are great!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love them. :)
These books are really, really good and I can't wait to see the movies. The one problem they will have is satisfying the large audience. Their is a lot to fit in and if they butcher it like Eragon then they are going to be in big trouble! Hope for the best!
I absolutely loved the first couple books in the series, but I think the Global Warming one killed it. A lot of the fans - including me - were disappointed with #4. It wasn't JP at all. #5 is apparently going to be about fish dying? Yay........... sarcasm....
I'm excited for the movie though, and I hope it all goes well
I think Payne and Arad will do a good job together
I found this series when I was about 23 and even though I was outside the median intended audience, I fell in love with the characters and the story. They are quick reads and very involving (much like Harry Potter). Definitely start at the beginning otherwise you might find yourself a bit lost. Here's hoping they do the books justice!
I am 30 and have been reading these books since they first came out. Why oh why is it taking so long for the movie to come out..... The writers need to try to stick to the original books as much as possible and you are right there is huge audience field with this, I know a lot of grown-ups who have read these and loved them, even some old people, as per say. Several of my nieces have also read them to.... This is just a great all around series..........
The Maximum Ride books can be very good at times.... Other times it can be really sucky like the 2nd one. As for any more James Patterson books that might be good.... ANY of the ones with killers in there are SICK. I started to read his book 'Hide and Seek' and this guy in there starting to have s-e-x with this older woman.. and it was just gross cuz the guy was writeing it as if he was doing it himself and then later when he starts to kill people he did the same thing. Rape + Kill = Enjoy. I won't read any of his books again. But I can not wait for the Maximum Ride movie!!
Omg these books are amazing! I haven't read any others that james patterson wrote, but the maximum ride series is amazing! I love the characters, especially fang. Haha max is pretty awesome too though!
ok if anyone knows if there are auditions for this movie anywhere let me know!!! i so would want to be in this movie!!!!
I love these books SSSSSOOOOOOOO much, and there are tons of other people I know who love them too! I love these books and I always thought they should be movies they are so great. Why is it taking so long??? I love Max and Fang's relationship, and love how close they are and how they always know what each other are thinking. I love all the other character's too, except the bad scientist dudes, because of how horrible they are to these experiments and put them in dog crates and stuff. Please I love these books, please make these movies soon, life is short!!!!!!
I love the Maximum Ride series I read a lot. The series is one I get everyone of my friends to read and they all like it. My best friend and I discuss the books everday because we read the whole series. Max is a lot like me and I would love to play her in the movie!
These books are sick! i mean they are so friggen awesome!
if anyone knows anything bout auditions email me sheffrox@yahoo.com
i know the PERFECT Max.
The books are great...people don't like the 4th cause it's about global warming.... you people obviousle have their eye closed to the news. can't wait for the movie.
I just found out that they are making Maximum ride into a movie and i am so excited!!!!!!!!!! Btw It better be good because the books were amazing i cant wait till water wings comes out i am almost done reading the final warning
I read all of them they were awesome could not put them down.Can't wait for the movie.
Well, you NEED to read that series then, because it's the best one I've EVER read in my LIFE.
So, yeah, it's good. XD
I find these books an easy and entertaining read. I love the plot line and it's a nice break away from the stories where the message is hidden deep within a bunch of complicated vocabulary (haha I'm suffering through Shakespeare right now).
anyways I definately recommend them :)
i absolutly love these books. Max and the others are really believable characters. i just started the third, and have the next on hold. i'm excited for the movie, i hope it stays true to the plot. i also like how james patterson is incorperating real life issues like global warming into the books that so many young people are reading. Way to inspire change, James! :D Two thumbs up!
i absolutly love these books. Max and the others are really believable characters. i just started the third, and have the next on hold. i'm excited for the movie, i hope it stays true to the plot. i also like how james patterson is incorperating real life issues like global warming into the books that so many young people are reading. Way to inspire change, James! :D Two thumbs up!
oops! i left the same commet twice, oh well, i guess it doubles the praise
I personally would love to see a MaxRide movie. I just hope they don't cut out too much. That's the problem with turning books into movies; ever seen Eragon? Yeah, the book was way better. I'm not saying movies based on books are bad (some of the Harry Potter ones are okay) but if they aren't done right, they'll kind of suck. Anyway, I did enjoy books, and I hope the movie turns out to be really good as well. Read the books though!
If ever in the last 20 years a series of books needed to be turned into a movie, this is that series. I was told about them by my brother and have not been able to stop reading them since. I just came back from the library with the first in the real series, "Angel Experiment". There were two books written about these kids before the actual 'series' begin. The first time we meet Max is in "When the Wind Blows" and "Lakehouse". Ther are two great characters Frannie and Kit...but they vanish....for what ever reason, James Patterson just drops that storyline and starts new with the Maximum RIde series. Angel Experiment starts out as if we are just meeting the kids. It is told by Max, the oldest girl in the flock.
Please Columbia....hurry up. WIth today's special effects available, this could just be the most amazing movie since The Wizard of Oz....no kidding. I had no idea James Patterson wrote such great fantasy books. I want to be a bird kid like Max.