Summit picks up Ender's Game; Gavin Hood to direct

It took years before Marvel Comics was able to adapt Orson Scott Card's wildly popular sci-fi novels, Ender's Game, but that's nothing compared to the difficulties others have experienced trying to make a movie of them. Nine years ago, Wolfgang Peterson(Air Force One) was set to direct the adaptation, but that never panned out. Then a couple of years ago, Gavin Hood(Tsotsi) was brought in to work up a draft, but nothing ever seemed to come of it, until now. Deadline is reporting that Summit Entertainment has scooped up the rights, and not only will it be based on Hood's initial script but he'll be directing as well.

I've never read Ender's Game but I have more than a few colleagues who swear by them, and judging by the premise I can see why. Ender's Game takes place in the distant future and revolves around a kid named Andrew "Ender" Wiggins. Mankind is being threatened by a warlike alien race, and so children are sent off to Battle School to train to be soldier and mankind's future leaders. So already in a lot of ways this is very similar to the next big young adult film franchise on the horizon, The Hunger Games.

In fact, Deadline makes it clear that Summit is looking for exactly that type of big series to keep hold of the teen demographic. Summit is only two movies away from wrapping up their Twilight cash cow, and something's gotta replace it. Ender's Game has a huge, rabid fan base and should fill that niche perfectly. Plus the cast are all young, teenagers for the most part, so Summit is hoping to retain that demographic.

To me, Ender's Game sounds like a much deeper, complex story than Twilight ever was so I have my doubts whether that audience will make the jump over. Plus, Ender's Game first came out in 1977, then expanded in 1985. Even though it's remained hugely successful and has had numerous spin offs since then I'm guessing that a large chunk of the people who really want to see this movie get made are folks my age.

The film will be shopped at Cannes later this year, with hopes for production to begin early next year.  So what do you think? Are you excited to see Ender's Game headed to the big screen? Who would you want to star?