Lionsgate Secures Film Rights for WHITE BIRD
The other day, we learned about White Bird, a graphic novel from author R. J. Palacio. Well, it turns out that Lionsgate has already acquired the rights to turn the graphic novel into a movie. The film will be produced by Palacio and David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Mandeville Films. Here’s the synopsis for the book:
“With White Bird, Palacio writes a story of a young Jewish girl hidden away by a boy and his family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Recounted by Grandmere to her grandson, Julian, a character already known to those familiar with Wonder, Grandmere’s story about her childhood—her fairy-tale life before the war, how everything abruptly changed when the Nazi’s occupied France, and how the boy she and her classmates once shunned becomes her savior and best friend — is transformational for Julian. It is his evolution, as well as Grandmere’s extraordinary story, that helps White Bird movingly demonstrate the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives.”
I’m interested to see who directs and who will star in the film adaptation. Nathan Kahane of Lionsgate released the following statement:
“Lionsgate is enormously proud of our association with world class writers who speak from the heart and soul and with a powerful, authentic voice. There can be no more important, hopeful or inspirational message today than those found in R.J.’s books. She is an extraordinary talent. White Bird like Wonder is about taking risks, taking a stand and the power of kindness. It is about the power and consequences of being brave and we are thrilled to be adapting White Bird together with her and Mandeville Films.”
Meanwhile, Palacio told of her excitement to work with Lionsgate:
“The team at Lionsgate values artists and storytellers and has been crucial to expanding the fan community surrounding Wonder. They have been enormously supportive as I have been writing White Bird and I could not feel more secure that my new graphic novel is in the right creative hands at the right studio.”
White Bird is available now in book stores. Have you read it yet? Who do you want to see attached to the project?