Emma Watson to Lead New Fantasy Franchise, 'Queen of the Tearling'

After spending more than a decade in the wizarding world of Harry Potter, Emma Watson has mostly stayed clear from franchises, blockbusters, and anything of a fantasy nature. She's been content to take on roles that built her up as a solid dramatic actress, and she'll show yet another aspect of that when Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring opens. But she's clearly moving back towards blockbuster territory, joining Guillermo Del Toro's delayed Beauty and the Beast, stealing the show as part of the apocalyptic comedy This Is the End, and starring in Darren Aronofsky's Noah.

Variety reports that Watson is ready to tackle another franchise, and she'll do it alongside Harry Potter producer David Heyman. She'll star in Queen of the Tearling, based on the first book in Erika Johansen's upcoming fantasy trilogy. The lead character was said to be inspired by a speech Johansen heard Barack Obama give in 2007, and the story is already receiving comparisons to Game of Thrones.

Here's the official synopsis: Set three centuries after a small portion of the human race has populated a landmass that mysteriously emerged in the wake of an environmental catastrophe, the series follows nineteen-year-old princess Kelsea Glynn, who must reclaim her deceased mother’s throne and redeem her kingdom, the Tearling, from forces of corruption and dark magic of The Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of the neighboring country, Mortmesne.

The book doesn't hit shelves until next year, so this is very early on. A writer and director also need to be found, but assuming that goes off without a hitch, we're going to be seeing even more of Watson.