20th Century Fox has just signed on for what could possibly be the next big fantasy YA adaptation, according to Deadline. They are planning a trilogy for the first two novels – Steelheart and Firefight – in the New York Times bestselling Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson.
The story follows the events after a burst in the sky gives ordinary people extraordinary powers. These powers lead the new superhumans – given the name “Epics” by the public – to gain ultimate control of power, with Steelheart as their emperor. The only entity willing to challenge the Epics are the Reckoners: an underground group of ordinary humans who have now made it their mission to study the Epics, learn their weaknesses, and wipe them out. The books center on David, who wants to become a Reckoner in order to avenge his father’s death at the hands of Steelheart.
In recent years – essentially since the end of the Harry Potter franchise – female protagonists have dominated young adult fantasy adaptations (Twilight, The Hunger Games, Divergent), with last year’s The Maze Runner being one of the only exceptions. The genre seems to be ripe, therefore, for a balance – or at least a narrowing – of the gap. With Universal’s Seventh Son debuting on February 6 and Maze Runner: Scorch Trials set for September, the Reckoners series will have a thriving market already in place upon its eventual release.
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