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The Hollywood Reporter has the news that the Judy Blume novel Tiger Eyes will be made into a feature film.  Blume wrote the screenplay with her son, Lawrence Blume, who is also directing the film. 

Amazingly, this will be the first Blume novel to be made into a feature film!   Some were adapted for TV in the past.  Here is why in Blume’s own words:

Blume said she hasn’t been star-struck by Hollywood despite being continually approached. She describes going on what she calls "Judy Sweetheart" lunches (where execs ask her, ‘Judy, sweetheart, what do you want to do?") and being less than enthralled with the Fudge series.

"I know I have reputation for not selling my books. And now I’m glad," she said. "Because here I am, working with a director I trust, someone I know understands those characters."

Production has already begun with Willa Holland (from Gossip Girl) playing Davey. Newcomer Tatanka Means will be playing Wolf.

The director of Let the Right One In, Tomas Alfredson, has been signed to direct Larklight, based on the book by Philip Reeve.  This steampunk book will be one of the first YA books of the genre adapted to film by a major studio.  Another to keep your eye on.

Thanks to /Film for the news.

The Familiars will become an animated film.  The director is Academy Award winner, Doug Sweetland who won the award for his short film, Presto.   Sweetland is a veteran Pixar animator, having worked on films like The Incredibles and Cars.  The authors will be writing the screenplay.  Definitely one to keep your eye on!

Cinematical has the welcome news that the movie version of Breaking Dawn is not going to be shot in 3D.  While I understand the use of 3D to create a depth of field that can be wonderful, I’m just not sure of the necessity for this film.  And goodness knows, we don’t need the other use of 3D where things come straight at you.  Birth scene nightmares anyone?

I seem to be a sucker for flying moments set to lovely music.  I had tears streaming down my face in the flying portion of How to Train Your Dragon.   I know, I’m a sap.  Anyway, the latest clip from Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole has that same sort of flying + music moment.

So what do you think?  Will it do the very popular series proud?  I think it just might!

Thanks to Cinematical for the link.

Tomorrow, When the War Began has been released in Australia.  It’s a film based on the first book in the Tomorrow series by Australian author, John Marsden.  The first reviews are also in, as you can read at The Sydney Morning Herald.  Quotes about the film include “long on action and short on drama” and “a briskly related adventure, with a good-looking young cast.” 

Marsden’s teen series features a dystopian future that has Australia being invaded by a military force from an unspecified country.  One of the big questions about the film is how race will be dealt with in the invaders since it was handled so vaguely in the books. 

Richelle Mead, author of the Vampire Academy series, has sold the film options for the series.  She met with producer Michael Preger of Preger Entertainment to develop the series for the big screen.  They are hoping to create a series of films.  Sounds like a Twilight idea to me!

Mead, who met with Preger and Murphy during the recent Comic-Con event in San Diego, says she’s not presuming anything yet.

"I’m hopeful. I’ve met the guys. They’re great. They love the books. But for me, it’s very easy to put this on the back burner. The options are sold, but it’s not something I’m thinking about most of the time. My focus is the books, because that’s what I do."

Read more at the Kansas City Star, including an interview with Mead.  It gives fans something to do before the final book in the series is released in December!

Summit has officially announced that Breaking Dawn Part 2 will be released a full year after Part 1. 

Part 1 is due out November 2011, and now Part 2 is scheduled for a November 2012 release.  You can read the rationale for the scheduling at the MTV News site.