The Hollywood Reporter brings word that 20th Century Fox has secured the big-screen rights to the Mouse Guard comic series by David Petersen. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and The Book of Eli scribe Gary Whitta will pen the screenplay for Mouse Guard movie, which sees Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Cloverfield director Matt Reeves producing.
Reeves’ own Sixth & Idaho will produce along with Mouse Guard publisher Boom! Studios’ Ross Richie and Stephen Christy. The outlet notes that Reeves, currently in post-production on War for the Planet of the Apes, does not intend to direct the adaptation at this stage.
On the series official website, creator David Petersen previously revealed he wanted a film adaptation “to be done correctly,” hoping to see a film in keeping with the series all-ages material and that it would be a CG heavy film, and it appears he’s getting his wish. Following the success of Disney’s The Jungle Book, THR reveals that the studio is eager to make a live-action version of the film albeit with CG characters via performance capture, of which Reeves has a lot of experience now. The Jungle Book grossed $936.7 million at the worldwide box office.
In the world of Mouse Guard, mice struggle to live safely and prosper amongst harsh conditions and a host of predators. Thus the Mouse Guard was formed: more than just soldiers, they are guides for common mice looking to journey without confrontation from one village to another. They see to their duty with fearless dedication so that they may not simply exist, but truly live.
