Screenwriting and screenwriter news covering deals, options, sales, developments and projects. This week’s theme so far: Novels.

FEATURED: Paramount and Plan B  (12 YEARS A SLAVE ) have tapped the Writer-director of ANCHORMAN Adam McKay to  adapt and direct THE BIG SHORT based on the best-selling book The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis about the housing and credit bubble. The book was released on March 15, 2010 by W. W. Norton & Company.

"(Lewis) has the amazing ability to take complex formulas and concepts and turn them into page turners," said Adam McKay in a statement. (Source)

Fox 2000 has acquired the novel Paper Towns, with an eye towards actor-singer Nat Wolff. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber are going to adapt, and Temple Hill’s Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen are producing. Neustadter and Weber will be executive producers. (Source)

FremantleMedia and UK’s Corona Picturesare developing a family adventure drama series based on best-selling author Wilbur Smith’s Birds Of Prey. LAYER CAKE scribe J.J. Connolly will do the adaptation.

“The stories chronicle the lives of the eponymous family as they battle to secure the clan’s fortunes in a place where sea-faring empires, privateers, wild animals and settled African tribes and nations fight it out for control of the land and its treasures.” (Source)

Unremembered, the first book in a YA trilogy by Jessica Brody, has been acquired by Reliance Entertainment and Kintop Pictures. No word yet on who will pen the script. (Source)