Warner Bros. developing THE LOST YEARS OF MERLIN

Warner Bros. is developing a big-budget adaptation of The Lost Years of Merlin,  based on the first book in T.A. Barron's 12-book fantasy series. Newcomer Ed Whitworth has magically appeared as the writer of the film. The story about a young version of the wizard from King Arthur's time could end up as a franchise. Donald De Line (Yogi Bear, Green Lantern) is set to produce the film

Here is a description of the book:

"A raging sea tosses a boy upon the shores of ancient Wales. Left for dead, he has no memory, no name, and no home. But it is his determination to find out who he is—to learn the truth about his mysterious powers—that leads him to a strange and enchanted land. And it is there he discovers that the fate of this land and his personal quest are strangely entwined."

The project looks as though it is a separate film from the Working Title's Merlin film we reported last year. I am interested in seeing how Whitworth handles the script. He is definitley dedicated as a writer, have wrote a number of scripts which have been turned down by studios. He is currently a script reader for Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and recently wrote a script titled Powell, about Colin Powell. 

I love the story of Merlin and am excited to see this project. What are your thoughts?