By Deadline is reporting that Guillermo Del Toro is set up to produce a version of The Secret Garden by Beasts of the Southern Wild writer Lucy Alibar. Universal snapped up the pitch amiss a battle of four studios over Alibar’s pitch (the woman is soooo hot right now). The film will take the story in a new direction by being based in the American south instead of England.
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic book has been adapted so many times it’s almost a cliche, but since there hasn’t been a film version of the story in 20 years it does seem ripe for the picking. If anyone’s going to pick it then it should be Del Toro and Alibar, who both know exactly how to mix childhood fantasy and dark reality. It should be quite the adventure, but I hope they know to keep it grounded. I guess it will depend on who helms the film. With Del Toro swamped with projects I doubt it will be him, but we can always hope.
[Deadline, vai /Film]