HarperCollins Publishers announced today that Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the feature film rights to the seven-book fantasy series, “Septimus Heap.” This bestselling series marks UK author Angie Sage’s first foray into middle-grade fantasy.
“Septimus Heap: Magyk,” the first book in the series will be produced by Karen Rosenfelt (The Devil Wears Prada) with Sage as Executive Producer.
The series tells the story of two babies that are switched at birth: one, a boy who discovers his birthright as the seventh son of a seventh son, and ultimately, a powerful wizard; the other, a girl who is destined to become Princess. Their stories are set in a weird and wonderful fairy-tale England and their journeys of self-discovery are filled with hilarious characters and clever charms, potions and spells.
“We are delighted that Warner Bros. will be creating films from the ‘Septimus Heap’ series,” said Susan Katz, President and Publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books. “We know that the producers share our belief that the world of ‘Septimus Heap’ is quirky, humorous, and unlike anything else in children’s fantasy.”
Published in March 2005 by HarperCollins Children’s Books, “Septimus Heap: Magyk” was an international bestseller. It debuted at #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List and moved to #1 in its second week on-sale. The subsequent books in the series, “Septimus Heap: Flyte” and “Septimus Heap: Physik,” were published in March 2006 and March 2007, respectively.
Since its inception, the “Septimus Heap” series has sold more than 1 million units in the United States. All of the books have appeared on national bestseller lists in the U.S. immediately following publication, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Book Sense. The series has been sold in 28 languages and has appeared on the bestseller lists in France, Sweden, Spain, and in the UK.
Angie Sage was born in London and grew up in the Thames Valley, London, and Kent, and currently lives in Cornwall, England. She has created many picture books and chapter books, published primarily in the UK.
The “Septimus Heap” series is published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
