Hollywood loves its adaptations, and a bunch of them are in the works.
First, Ron Howard has signed on to direct The Emperor's Children, which Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) adapted from Claire Messud's 2006 novel. The story is about New York Ivy League grads angst-ridden over their approaching 30s.
Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) will be directing an adaptation of Mao's Last Dancer, the 2003 autobiography of Chinese ballet dancer Li Cunxin who defected to the West in 1981. Jan Sardi (Shine) wrote the adaption, which will begin filming in February.
And what better choice than Rob Marshall (Chicago) to direct Nine, Michael Tolkin's (The Player) adaption of the 1982 Broadway musical of the same name? The story is based on the Fellini film 8 1/2.
And finally, director of the breakthrough Irish indie rock-musical Once, John Carney, will be making his US studio debut. Carney has signed to direct Town House, a comedy about a hermit who maintains his lifestyle by selling off memorabilia left to him by his dead rock star father. It was adapted from Tish Cohen's 2007 novel by screenwriter Doug Wright (Quills).
Source: Variety.