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Peter Jackson to Adapt Sci-Fi/Fantasy Steampunk MORTAL ENGINES

Philip Reeve’s MORTAL ENGINES book is being adapted into film by Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit director Peter Jackson.

Mortal Engines, book one of The Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve, is being adapted into film through Universal Pictures. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson co-wrote script with his wife Fran Walsh and collaborator Philippa Boyens, but Jackson will not be directing the film. Instead, newcomer and Jackson protoge Christian Rivers will be taking the director’s seat for the sci-fi/fantasy steampunk story.

“Christian is one of my closest collaborators,” says Jackson, “The combination of emotion and jaw-dropping visuals in Mortal Engines makes this the perfect movie for his move into feature directing. What Christian intends to do with Philip Reeve’s terrific story is going to result in an original and spectacular movie. I wish I could see it tomorrow!”

Said Rivers: “Mortal Engines is one of those stories that was made for the big screen. A fantastical, futuristic world that has to be seen to be believed.  At its heart though, it’s a beautiful love story and a richly complex character driven adventure.  To be the director who gets to bring Philip Reeve’s incredible universe to life is a dream come true.”

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In regards to the book, Mortal Engines was published in 2001 through Scholastic, and then again in 2005 through Harper Collins, and takes place in a dystopic, steampunk world. The chronicles make up four books, with the other books titled Predator’s Gold, Infernal Devices, and A Darkling Plain.

Here’s the overview:

Welcome to the astounding world of Predator Cities! London is hunting again. Emerging from its hiding place in the hills, the great Traction City is chasing a terrified little town across the wastelands. Soon, London will feed. In the attack, Tom Natsworthy is flung from the speeding city with a murderous scar-faced girl. They must run for their lives through the wreckage–and face a terrifying new weapon that threatens the future of the world. Beloved storyteller Philip Reeve creates a brilliant new world in the Predator Cities series, called “phenomenal…violent and romantic, action-packed and contemplative, funny and frightening” by the Sunday Times.

This seems like an excellent fit for Peter Jackson and his group, and something that could really show benefit the steampunk community. And if you consider the artistry related to the books, it’s definitely something that would be amazing seen on the big screen.

(Image source: Mortal Engines Wiki)
(Image source: Mortal Engines Wiki)

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By Nat, the Geek Girl

Southern California native who likes movies, books (Shadowhunter Chronicles, NA, YA fantasy, Red Rising series), TV shows (The Sandman), and San Diego Comic-Con. I also like to write, but don't get to do much of that aside from on here. I fell into the BTS rabbit hole, and I refuse to leave.