This article comes to us from Variety:

Disney and Robert Zemeckis are eyeing the ocean floor as the setting for a new family franchise.

The Mouse House and ImageMovers have wrapped a deal to partner with the Gotham Group to adapt Kat Falls’ upcoming young adult novel “Dark Life,” with Zemeckis attached to direct.

Book is set in a near-future world in which rising ocean levels and natural catastrophes have led some people to homestead on the ocean floor, and kids to develop supernatural powers. Story centers on an underwater teenage boy and a surface girl who join forces to uncover a government conspiracy.

Project fits in well with Disney’s new mandate to create family friendly fare that can be exploited across the company’s various platforms and spawn sequels.

The Gotham Group won the rights to “Dark Life” after making a preemptive bid to buy the manuscript earlier this year (Daily Variety, Jan. 25). Book will be published by Scholastic in May, backed by a major marketing push. Two books had initially been planned, but could now expand to more installments.

Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey will produce through ImageMovers with Jackie Levine shepherding the project for the shingle. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman will produce through Gotham.

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Chip C has written 6070 post on Chip and Co..

Chip is owner of and webmaster of Chip and Co - Your source for Disney News and Views. He focuses on writing Disney Park News, Planning Tips, Giveaways, TV and Movie News. When he isn't blogging about Disney he is planning his next trip to Walt Disney World.

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