Spielberg has 39 Clues

Posted on June 25, 2008  9:01 am by robin
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Scholastic Inc. is prepping to launch a major new project that defines the very term “multimedia.” And if you haven’t heard of it yet, you’re about to hear a lot about it, because a movie’s being made of the project by some guy named Spielberg.

It’s called The 39 Clues, and it’s planned as a series of 10 youth fiction novels to be released over 2 years, with tie-in 350 collectible cards, and an online game where kids can hunt for and discover the 39 clues for themselves, and win prizes. A team of bestselling authors have been recruited to pen the series, with the first book, The Maze of Bones, by Rick Riordan, to be released this September. Subsequent books, which will be released every 3 to 4 months, are being written by the likes of Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, and others. Scholastic’s website for the project is under currently construction.

The entire 10-book story arc has already been mapped out, and based on the strength of that outline, DreamWorks has snatched up the motion picture rights to the project. DreamWorks believes there’s “enough material for three or four movies,” and Spielberg’s eying the project as a personal directing gig. (So it’s gotta be something cool if Steven’s interested.)

So what’s it about? Here’s the official synopsis for The Maze of Bones:

Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her decendants an impossible decision: “You have a choice - one million dollars or a clue.”

Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world’s most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will reveal the family’s secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what’s important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.

Here’s a promotional video produced to hype the project:

What do you think? I’m intrigued and ready to see/hear more, especially now that Spielberg’s involved.

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