AceShowbiz -

Realizing his intention to make "The Emperor's Children" his new directing stint, renowned filmmaker Ron Howard has finally laid his hands on the project which Universal Pictures has been developing since January, Variety has confirmed.

In carrying out the task, Howard thereby will work it on from the script penned by Oscar-nominated scribe Noah Baumbach, widely known for his writing effort in 2005's "The Squid and the Whale." "The Da Vinci Code" helmer, in the meantime, is also poised to handle producing matters alongside Imagine Entertainment's topper Brian Grazer.

Adapted from the Claire Messud tome, "Children" revolves around three Brown University-educated students who are expected to do something important yet still struggling to fulfill the promise as they turn thirty years old. The original, published last year in August, was Messud's most recent work and has been long-listed for the 2006 Man Booker Prize.