'Hunger Games' Gary Ross Set to Direct 'PETER AND THE STARCATCHER' Film

Deadline.com reports that 'Hunger Games' director Gary Ross is set to helm Disney's upcoming film adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS. The novel's stage adaptation is currently running on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The production won 5 Tony Awards in June, including Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Costume Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play and Best Sound Design of a Play.

According to the report, Disney is awaiting a new draft of the script which is being penned by Jesse Wigutow and is expected to be completed this October. Ross is hoping to begin production in 2013. The film is being described as a "prequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, a fantasy pirate adventure full that starts when Peter leads a group of orphaned boys sent to work as servants for King Zarboff. He winds up on a ship with Molly, who intrigues him with a story of how she is an apprentice Starcatcher, a group that collects “starstuff” that falls to Earth and gives power to those who find it. They must keep it away from the pirate Black Stache, as well as the king." 

Ross' recent blockbuster, The Hunger Games, grossed $685 million worldwide at the box office. The director dropped out of helming it's upcoming sequel, 'Catching Fire,' due to creative differences with Lionsgate, the studio behind the film.

Broadway's PETER AND THE STARCATCHER garnered nine Tony Award® nominations, including Best Play (Rick Elice), Best Original Score (Wayne Barker & Rick Elice), Best Performance by a Featured Actor (Christian Borle), Best Performance by a Featured Actress (Celia Keenan-Bolger), Best Scenic Design (Donyale Werle), Best Costume Design (Paloma Young), Best Lighting Design (Jeff Croiter), Best Sound Design (Darron L West) and Best Direction (Roger Rees & Alex Timbers).

The cast includes Matthew Saldivar, who took over the role of 'Black Stache' from Tony- nominated Christian Borle, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony nominated for her role as ‘Molly,’ the titular Starcatcher; and Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal) as ‘Boy’, along with Teddy Bergman, Arnie Burton, Matt D’Amico, Kevin Del Aguila, Carson Elrod, Greg Hildreth, Rick Holmes, Isaiah Johnson, David Rossmer, Betsy Hogg, Orville Mendoza, Jason Ralph and John Sanders.

The creative team includes Wayne Barker (Music), Steven Hoggett (Movement), Marco Paguia (Music Direction), Donyale Werle (Scenic Design), Paloma Young (Costume Design), Jeff Croiter (Lighting Design) and Darron L West (Sound Design).