Encyclopedia Brown may finally get to solve mysteries on the big screen. Warner Bros. is reportedly in talks to acquire the rights to the iconic children’s book series.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on Monday that the studio is in the final stages of acquiring the rights. Roy Lee and Howard David Deutsch have will produce the project.
Donald J. Sobol created Leroy Brown, who first appeared in 1963’s Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, notes The Huffington Post. Brown was an intelligent boy detective who solved mysteries in his small town. Sobol, who died last summer, wrote 28 Encyclopedia Brown books.
Hollywood has tried before and failed to bring Encyclopedia Brown to the screen. Deutsch has had the rights since 1979 and did make an HBO series in 1989, but he’s never been able to bring it to the big screen. In the 1980s, there were rumors about a version with Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn at Warner Bros. and in the 2000s, Ridley Scott of all directors was even interested, notes THR. But nothing came of those projects.
Right now Warner Bros. is looking for a writer and director for the project.
Lee just produced The Lego Movie for Warner Bros. and is working on the Archie project that was reported on earlier this month.
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