Independent production company East of Doheny has optioned film rights to Jim Benton’s Franny K. Stein: Mad Scientist series of children’s books and has teamed with The Gotham Group to produce an animated feature based on the property. East of Doheny founder Kelly Gonda is producing the pic with Tracey Trench, while Gotham president and CEO and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein serves as exec producer, along with Benton and Julie Kane-Ritsch.
The Franny K. Stein series follows the exploits of a young, mad scientist and inventor with a unique and endearing personality that helps her conquer dangerous monsters of all sorts. The books make constant tongue-in-cheek references to classic monster and sci-fi movies, while imparting lessons about being yourself and resisting conformity. Six books have been published by Simon & Schuster, with a seventh set to hit shelves in 2008.
East of Doheny’s feature film and theater production slate contains more than 35 projects in active development. The company is in pre-production on a filmed adaptation of Wendelin Van Draanan’s young adult novel, Flipped, which is being adapted for the big screen by Nora and Delia Ephron. In addition, the company is producing the Broadway hit Grey Gardens, based on the acclaimed documentary by Albert and David Maysles, and starring Tony-winners Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson.
The Gotham Group serves as exec producer on Aardman Animations’ Americanized Creature Comforts series on CBS, and is also at work on the eagerly awaited filmed adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles, a popular series of fantasy books from author Holly Black and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi. The first film in what will likely be a series will be released by Paramount under the Nickelodeon Movies label.
