LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Tom Hanks and his producing partner Gary Goetzman are planning a movie adaptation of Jeanne DuPrau's novel "The City of Ember," Daily Variety said Monday.
The paper said Hanks and Goetzman -- whose Playtone production company has "The Polar Express" ready for release this month -- are in talks with Caroline Thompson ("Edward Scissorhands") to write the screenplay for "The City of Ember." Gil Kenan reportedly will make his live-action directing debut on the project.
Kenan recently directed "The Lark," a short combining live-action and animation. He is currently working on his feature debut -- "Monster House" -- a motion capture animated project produced by Steven Spielberg and "The Polar Express" producer-director Robert Zemeckis.
"The City of Ember" is a Sci-Fi fantasy adventure in which humans live in underground cities because the atmosphere has become too toxic.
