Catherine Hardwicke is in talks to direct Columbia's big-screen version of James Patterson’s best-selling novel series “Maximum Ride."

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.

Columbia is eyeing an entire franchise if this film succeeds. No word on how many films the studio is planning at this stage.

Hardwicke last directed Summit's "Twilight," but she won't return for the sequel, "New Moon." Her credits also include "Thirteen" and "Lords of Dogtown."

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Barry Levinson is set to direct a big-screen adaptation of Anatoly Kuznetsov's WWII classic "Babi Yar."

Here's how Variety describes the project:

"Novel is the author's harrowing account of witnessing mass executions of Jews, gypsies, Poles and prisoners of war during the German occupation of Kiev. The title refers to a ravine called Babi Yar where the atrocities took place."

"Yar" will be produced on a $35 million budget, and shooting is expected to start in Ukraine and Romania in April.

Levinson's credits unclude "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Rain Man," and more recently "Man of the Year." He last helmed "What Just Happened."

The most recent WWII films to open in theaters include "Defiance," "Valkyrie," "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" and "The Counterfeiters."

Tom Hooper is set to direct the big-screen adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel "East of Eden" for Univerdal Pictures and producer Brian Grazer.

According to Variety, Christopher Hampton is on board to write the film, a retelling of the Cain and Abel story. The trade says "the multigenerational story focuses on the Trask brothers and a woman who comes between the siblings."

Studios became interested in Steinbeck's book when it jumped to the top of bestseller lists in 2004. Ron Howard was originally attached to direct the film, but he recently dropped out.

Hooper most recently helmed HBO's acclaimed television event "John Adams," which won four Golden Globes. As for Hampton, he penned the screenplay for "Atonement" and "The Quiet American."

Hooper told Variety, "There is an opportunity to show the sex, violence and darkness of Steinbeck's work, along with the optimism and celebration of love."

"East of Eden" is scheduled to head into production later this year.

Filmmaker Peter Webber is set to direct the big-screen adaptation of Paul Bowles’ novel “The Spider’s House,” according to Variety.

The trade says the film follows two American former lovers whose paths cross in Fez, Morocco, as clashes between pro-independence insurgents and French colonial overlords escalate.

Webber, whose credits include “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and “Hannibal Rising,” is directing a screenplay by Laurie Cooke.

Timothy Burrill (“La vie en rose”) produces the project, which is scheduled to launch production next year.

Screenwriter Ann Peacock will pen the big-screen adaptation of John Grisham’s novel “The Partner,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The trade says the film centers on a disillusioned lawyer who steals $90 million from his law firm, stages his own death and successfully disappears for several years. What at first seems to be a brilliant white-collar crime is further complicated by a murder charge.

The project will be produced by Robert Chartoff, whose credits include all the "Rocky" flicks, "Raging Bull" and "True Confessions" and Lynn Hendee of Chartoff Prods., along with Grant Turck and Mark Bethea of newcomer Velocity Management.

Peacock also wrote the adaptations of Nicholas Sparks’ novel “Nights in Rodanthe,” and Valerie Tripp’s “Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl.” She also recently penned “The Killing Room” with Gus Krieger.