Scholastic Entertainment, the media division of Scholastic, is joining forces with Josephson Entertainment and Weed Road Pictures to co-develop and co-produce a new live-action feature film based on the spellbinding hit Scholastic YA book, Caster, by author Elsie Chapman. Paramount Pictures has optioned the film rights, zeroing-in on the compelling magic-themed fantasy title—now a two-book series—as its next big YA franchise.
Oscar-winning screenwriter and noted director and producer Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures (Batman Forever, A Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend, The Da Vinci Code) and Greg Lessans are producing the film with Scholastic Entertainment President Iole Lucchese and SVP & General Manager Caitlin Friedman. For Josephson Entertainment, company principal, Barry Josephson (Enchanted, Men In Black, Bones) and Head of Features, D. Matt Geller (Remember), will oversee the adaptation for their banner.
“Caster is an absolutely thrilling story with twists and turns that keep readers riveted and holding their breath to see what happens next,” said Lucchese. “We are very excited to be working with Josephson Entertainment and Akiva and his team at Weed Road Pictures to bring this exhilarating story to life on screen.”
“Caster is a wildly imaginative vision of an earth infused with magic, but with a very grounded and contemporary heroine at its core,” said Goldsman. “I’m so excited to help bring Aza and her world to life alongside my terrific partners at Josephson, Scholastic Entertainment, and Paramount.”
“With its captivating storyline and strong and resourceful lead female character, Caster is sure to win over audiences, just as it has amassed a large and loyal fanbase of readers,” said Producer Barry Josephson of Josephson Entertainment. “We’re so pleased to be working with Scholastic Entertainment and Weed Road on this ‘magical’ adventure.”
In Caster, Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal, as casting killed her sister, Shire. As with all magic, everything comes at a price. For Aza, it feels like everything in her life has some kind of cost attached to it. And now with Shire dead, Aza must step in to save the legacy of Wu Teas, the teahouse that has been in her family for centuries.