Melissa Rosenberg writing and producing EARTHSEED feature film

Movie Dexter Twilight about 13 years agoby

Melissa Rosenberg will write and produce a feature film adaptation of the 1983 young-adult sci-fi novel Earthseed, written by Pamela Sargent. The film will serve as a launch for the film side of Rosenberg's new production company, Tall Girls Prods. The material was brought to Rosenberg by Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman, who has long wanted to make a movie adaptation of the book, brought the material to Rosenberg. Goodman will shepherd for the studio along with vp Ashley Brucks.

Earthseed takes place in "a future where humans launch a project called Ship to carry Earth DNA into space to find a new planet on which to settle. During its flight, a group of newly grown teenagers born without traditional parents are provided a simulated Earth environment, Hollow, to test their ability to survive. As some of the kids splinter off, tensions grow between the groups and major revelations ensue as fighting erupts."

Here is what Rosenberg had to say about the project:

“It really talks about the debate of nature vs. nurture, what is innately human and what can be bred in or out of someone. There’s a Lord of the Flies element to it. It involves a young woman who starts off as someone who is content with playing by the rules and being a “good girl,’ and then has to realize that the rules are malleable and that she has to step forward as a leader. It’s really about coming into one’s own power and embracing one’s own strength and individuality."

Sargent has written dozens of books recently wrote two sequels to Earthseed: Farseed(2007) and Seed Seeker (2010). The studio and Rosenberg are looking to make this a potential franchise. Rosenberg goes on to say:

“What I want for Tall Girls is to be creating great, strong roles for women, but in four-quadrant, high-concept movies. "Not movies for women in the traditional sense but more interesting, intriguing, complex roles—and kickass women, as well. That is definitely this book.”

Rosenberg wrote the film adaptations for the entire Twilight series, which have grossed $1.8 billion worldwide. The last two films in the series -- Breaking Dawn, Parts 1 & 2 -- will open in November 2011 and November 2012. She also co-wrote the script for Step Up and was a writer-producer on Dexter and The O.C.

What are your thoughts on this news? Have you read the series?