AceShowbiz -

Giving favor to family-themed feature, Universal Pictures has picked up the rights to make "Everlost", a big screen adaptation of Neal Shusterman's novel of the same title, Variety has learned.

Following this, the giant company will develop the project as a potential directing vehicle for Gary Ross with Shusterman to pen the screenplay. Meanwhile, Larger Than Life's Allison Thomas and Naketha Mattocks will both seat as producers.

As for the premise, pic is likely to stay close to the book's story which centers on two teenagers named Nick and Allie who meet in a netherworld known as Everlost after their cars collide.

"We liked the characters, and the idea that it was an action adventure story that had no wizards or dragons, that wasn't driven by magic like so many of these films are," Thomas commented. "This is an alternative universe, almost Peter Pan-ish, with its own set of rules and two strong lead characters trying to find their way back to their families."