Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) will direct Weslandia, a film adaptation of the children's book by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman. Deadline reported that Shawn DeLoache (The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy) is writing the script.
Producers will include Ted Field (Jumanji, Riddick franchises), Anthony Tringali, Michael Napoliello and Maria Frisk for Radar Pictures, along with Cori Silberman and Michael Dovid for Bandits Roost Entertainment.
"Weslandia is the first children's book since Jumanji that fully captured my imagination and I feel very privileged to be able to bring it to the big screen with a filmmaker as talented as Kenny Ortega," said Field, who will also serve as executive producer.
Ortega called the project "right in my wheelhouse," adding that it is "a perfect opportunity for introducing fresh, breakout talent and creating a soundtrack that powerfully propels the narrative forward. I'm eagerly looking forward to the assembling of our creative team, and to bringing this vision to the screen."
"Bandits Roost is thrilled to be working alongside such incredible creatives to bring Wes's world to life," added co-founder Silberman. "This film will send kids on an adventure that shows them that through imagination and collaboration, creating a better world is truly in their hands."