Jeff Nathanson Signs on to Write “The 39 Clues” for DreamWorks Studios and Scholastic Media

 

The groundbreaking, multi-platform property from Scholastic to Launch on September 9, 2008

 

Los Angeles, CA — September 2, 2008 — Jeff Nathanson has signed on to write the screenplay for the first film installment of The 39 Clues™, it was announced today by Stacey Snider, Co-Chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios and Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media.

DreamWorks Studios recently acquired the movie rights from Scholastic Media to the highly anticipated multi-platform adventure series which Forte will produce and Steven Spielberg is eyeing to direct. Nathanson once again joins Spielberg, having worked on three of the director’s films including writing the screenplays for "The Terminal" and "Catch Me If You Can," for which he earned a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Nathanson also contributed to the story for the recent worldwide blockbuster "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." His other credits include the screenplays for "Rush Hour 2" and "Rush Hour 3," "The Last Shot," which he also directed, and "New York, I Love You," which is scheduled for release next year.

"Jeff's writing brings characters to life with his great sense of adventure touched with humor and suspense, just the right recipe for our family film," said Stacey Snider of DreamWorks.

"Jeff’s accomplishments as a screenwriter and storyteller combined with his enthusiasm for the project make him the ideal person to adapt The 39 Clues," said Deborah Forte, producer.

Adam Goodman and Holly Bario are overseeing the project’s development at DreamWorks Studios. Nathanson is repped by CAA.

The 39 Clues centers around the Cahills—the most powerful family the world has ever known. The source of its power is a mystery that can only be unraveled by assembling 39 clues hidden around the world throughout history.

The hunt begins for The 39 Clues, an interactive multi-platform adventure series, on September 9, 2008. The first book, The Maze of Bones, written by #1 New York Times best-selling author Rick Riordan, will be released simultaneously in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The second book, One False Note, by Gordon Korman will be published on December 2, 2008. Additional authors and publication dates for subsequent titles will be announced at a later date. The official 39 Clues online game also will launch worldwide on September 9, 2008, on The 39 Clues web site. Combining reading with online gaming and card collecting, this interactive series for ages 8-12 spans 10 adrenaline-charged books, hundreds of collectible game cards, and an online game that allows readers to play a part in the story and compete for prizes.

The 39 Clues website, www.the39clues.com, will allow kids to participate in the adventure by tracking their clues, managing their card collections, digging through the Cahill archives for secrets, and “traveling” the world to collect Cahill artifacts, interview characters, and hunt down the clues. Finding clues and earning points results in prizes—and those who solve all 39 clues will be able to compete for the grand prize.

About DreamWorks Studios
DreamWorks Studios was formed in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. The company won three consecutive Best Picture Academy Awards with "American Beauty," "Gladiator," and "A Beautiful Mind" (both co-produced with Universal). Among the company's other successes have been such films as "Saving Private Ryan" (co-produced with Paramount), "The Ring," "Minority Report" (co-produced with 20th Century Fox), "War of the Worlds," "Dreamgirls," and "Transformers" (all co-produced with Paramount). Among its upcoming productions are "Ghost Town," "Eagle Eye," "The Soloist," and "Revolutionary Road."

About Scholastic Media
Scholastic Media (SM), the entertainment and media division of Scholastic, is a leading producer of quality, family-oriented content across multiple platforms, including feature films, television programming, videos, interactive and audio products, and web sites, and is a major developer and marketer of children's brands worldwide.

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world"s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs and school-based book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, television networks and the Company’s Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.

Contacts:

DreamWorks Studios
Kristin Stark
(818) 733-9685
kristin_stark@dreamworksstudios.com

Scholastic Inc.
Kyle Good
(212) 343-4563
kgood@scholastic.com