20th Century Fox Options BOOM! Studios' 'The Foundation'

20th Century Fox has optioned BOOM! comic book miniseries THE FOUNDATION for development as a film. The story follows the adventures of a secret organization, The Foundation, originally created by Nostradamus to prevent his prophecies from occurring. They still exist today, protecting mankind and fighting an array of global threats.

THE FOUNDATION was originally published by BOOM! in December 2007 as a five-issue miniseries, created by Kody Chamberlain, written by John Rozum, and with art by Chee. The trade paperback collection features a cover by Paul Azaceta.

Fox has hired Evan Daughtery, screenwriter of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (which just opened #1 at the box office with a $65 million weekend) to adapt THE FOUNDATION. Daugherty also wrote Divergent and Snow White and the Huntsman.

As you may know, BOOM! signed a first-look feature film deal with 20th Century Fox, opening a satellite office on the Fox lot this past April. The Hollywood Reporter characterized the deal as a pact that "potentially could be one of the most lucrative underlying rights deals ever made with a comic book company." The deal gives Fox first crack at BOOM!'s catalog of comic book series, but if the studio passes, BOOM! can shop the titles to other potential buyers.

The first-look deal covers all four BOOM! imprints: the core BOOM! brand, the All-Ages-focused KaBOOM!, boutique prestige imprint Archaia, and the new experimental brand BOOM! Box.

Fox has indicated it will be looking to the comic book company to supply high concept source material as a platform to develop feature films.

BOOM! Founder and CEO Ross Richie will produce the adaptation of THE FOUNDATION, along with President of Development Stephen Christy.

"THE FOUNDATION has long been one of my favorite projects in BOOM!'s original publishing slate from back in the day," said Richie. "Kody Chamberlain had a brilliant idea and I am excited that a major studio thinks so, too!"

In case you missed it, BOOM! announced a few weeks ago a film deal with Fox for MALIGNANT MAN with James Wan (Fast 6, The Conjuring) producing and directing.