Alcon Entertainment revealed today that it has acquired film rights to the upcoming comedic fantasy adventure novel series Darkmouth, written by Irish author Shane Hegarty. Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove made the announcement.
From HarperCollins Children’s Books, Darkmouth tells the story of the last town on Earth where monsters (known as Legends) still invade. Finn, the 12-year-old son of the last remaining Legend Hunter must follow in his father’s footsteps and prepare for an epic battle to defeat the Legends as their terrifying leader plans a major attack on Earth. Unfortunately, Finn is one of the worst Legend Hunters in history.
“I’m thrilled that the film rights for ‘Darkmouth’ are in such amazing hands and am very excited by the vision Kira, Simon, Andrew and Broderick have for the material,” says Hegarty. “It’s going to be a great adventure!”
Simon Brooks (Love, Rosie) of Canyon Creek Films and 8:38’s Kira Davis (Prisoners) will produce along with Kosove and Johnson. Brooks and Davis brought the project to Alcon.
“We are excited to develop this highly sought after series for the big screen with Andrew and Broderick,” said Brooks and Davis in a joint statement. “Shane has created an enthralling, magical world with fascinating warm unforgettable characters and his stories lend themselves perfectly to a cinematic telling.”
HarperCollins Children’s Books, which acquired rights to the series after a hotly contested auction at Bologna Book Fair 2013, will publish Hegarty’s debut novel, “Darkmouth #1: The Legends Begin,” in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia at the end of January and in the US at the end of April.
Hegarty was the Arts Editor of national newspaper The Irish Times. A father to four children, he lives on the east coast of Ireland. Hegarty is repped by Marianne Gunn O’Connor of The Marianne Gunn O’Connor Literary, Film and TV Agency.
