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Lionsgate working on 'Magic Tree House' movie series

By Karen Butler
Hollywood studio Lionsgate announced Thursday plans to develop a film series based on the "Magic Tree House" children's book series. No details on casting have yet been revealed. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Hollywood studio Lionsgate announced Thursday plans to develop a film series based on the "Magic Tree House" children's book series. No details on casting have yet been revealed. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Hollywood studio Lionsgate announced Thursday it is developing several live-action movies based on the 54-volume Magic Tree House children's book series.

No casting or director has been disclosed.

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Author Mary Pope Osborne will executive produce the time-traveling, globe-trotting adventures, along with her husband, Will Osborne. Will Osborne and Jenny Laird have written the script for the first installment, based primarily on Book 29: Christmas in Camelot. It follows Jack and Annie as they rediscover the tree house they outgrew and are summoned to Camelot to be its saviors. "We're always looking for magical worlds to expand into potential motion-picture franchises, and this is an iconic property that is beloved and recognizable around the world," Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erik Feig said in a statement. "The Magic Tree House books have been cherished by generations of readers, including my own children. We're thrilled to bring the genius of Mary Pope Osborne's iconic stories to the screen for their tens of millions of fans and to introduce a whole new audience to their magic." "Lionsgate has an impressive reputation for working closely with content creators, respecting and protecting their vision, and making them part of the creative process," Osborne said. "I'm thrilled to have partnered with them on bringing the Magic Tree House books to life in a series of films that kids, parents and grandparents will all get to enjoy together."

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Lionsgate has successfully helped turn the popular, young-adult book series The Hunger Games, Twilight and Divergent into big-screen blockbusters.

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