VARIETY: Davis Films bites for 'Night'
Vampire book series eyed for bigscreen franchise
By ANDREW STEWART
Davis Films, the company behind the "Resident Evil" franchise, has bought feature rights to mother-daughter authors P.C. and Kristin Cast's young-adult vampire series "House of Night."
Acquired as another potential franchise for Davis Films, "House of Night" centers on a 16-year-old girl named Zoey Redbird, who's sent to a special boarding school after learning she is genetically earmarked to become a "vampyre" in adolescence, or killed in the process.
The series has sold more than 12 million copies in the U.S. and has been on the New York Times bestseller list for a record 140 weeks, with versions in a total 39 countries. Series' ninth installment, "Destined," hit bookshelves on Oct. 25.
Davis Films topper Samuel Hadida credited the Cast writing duo for penning a series with worldwide appeal.
"They have created a world of adolescent growth against a backdrop of supernatural suspense that resonates around the world with young readers immersed in 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter,'" Hadida said. "We see with 'House of Night' the same franchise potential."
Deal was negotiated by Sean Daily at Hotchkiss and Associates and Meredith Bernstein on behalf of the authors.