Lionsgate has announced, through Deadline, plans to adapt the Patrick Ness Chaos Walking trilogy of novels for the screen. What's more, they've attached screenwriting auteur Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) to provide the screenplay for the first book, The Knife of Never Letting Go. Released in 2008, that book is officially described as follows:

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.

But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.

Or are there?

Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.

Which is impossible.

Prentisstown has been lying to him.

And now he's going to have to run...

Kaufman previously adapted Chuck Barris' biography Confessions of a Dangerous Mind for the George Clooney film of the same name. He also brought Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" to the screen with director Spike Jonze as Adaptation. Among his upcoming projects is his sophomore effort as a director, the musical comedy drama Frank or Francis.