THE LORD OF THE RINGS Screenwriter Tackling Movie About Merlin's Origins

Philippa Boyens is the unsung hero of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. While Jackson and, to a lesser extent, Fran Walsh have recognition outside of those three movies, Boyens — an epic Tolkien nerd — does not. But she's the third part of that writing triumvirate, and she's co-written everything Jackson has directed since Fellowship. But it looks like she's spreading her wings and moving on to a solo project.

Deadline reports that Boyens has been hired to write an adaptation of T.A. Barron's The Merlin Saga, a series of books that tell the origin story of the famed Arthurian wizard. Here's the description of the first book from Amazon:

Washed up on the shores of ancient Wales, the boy had no home, no memory and no name...he was determined to find all three. 

This best-selling series follows the adventures and training of young Merlin on the mist-shrouded isle of Fincayra, an enchanted land between earth and sky that is being destroyed by blight. With this land's inhabitants to guide him, the boy will learn that Fincayra's fate and his own quest are strangely interwined. 

He is destined to become the greatest wizard of all time--known to all as Merlin.

The Oscar-winning writer is apparently excited about the material, and it should be interesting to see what she does outside of the comforts of working with her regular collaborators. Disney is hoping this turns into a Harry Potter-esque film franchise, so...no pressure.