Australian Stuart Beattie (Australia) will make his directorial debut on an adaptation of the young-adult novel “Tomorrow, When the War Began.” Beattie also wrote the screenplay.
“Tomorrow” is the first novel in a popular series of seven written by Aussie John Marsden and published from 1994-99. “The Tomorrow Series,” as it is known, details the insurgency efforts of a band of teenagers fighting off an enemy invasion and occupation of their homeland.
“It’s coming of age in a war zone,” said Beattie, who said he has read and loved all the books.
Beattie is casting and crewing up for a September shoot Down Under.
The filmmakers plan to make a trilogy of features from the first three books and then, if they’re successful, spin the next four off into a TV series. Paramount Vantage will distribute worldwide.
Marsden also penned a follow-up trilogy called the Ellie Chronicles, which look at the war’s aftermath.
