Ron Howard to Direct THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAR for Warner Bros

According to Deadline, Warner Bros. has picked up the rights to Joel Dicker's hit novel THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAR, with Ron Howard set to direct. Howard and Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer will produce.

The book is officially described as:

"August 30, 1975: the day fifteen-year-old Nola Kellergan is glimpsed fleeing through the woods, never to be heard from again; the day Somerset, New Hampshire, lost its innocence.

Thirty-three years later, Marcus Goldman, a successful young novelist, visits Somerset to see his mentor, Harry Quebert, one of the country's most respected writers, and to find a cure for his writer's block as his publisher's deadline looms. But Marcus's plans are violently upended when Harry is suddenly and sensationally implicated in the cold-case murder of Nola Kellergan-whom, he admits, he had an affair with. As the national media convicts Harry, Marcus launches his own investigation, following a trail of clues through his mentor's books, the backwoods and isolated beaches of New Hampshire, and the hidden history of Somerset's citizens and the man they hold most dear. To save Harry, his own writing career, and eventually even himself, Marcus must answer three questions, all of which are mysteriously connected: Who killed Nola Kellergan? What happened one misty morning in Somerset in the summer of 1975? And how do you write a book to save someone's life?"

Ron Howard is the producer and director of such landmark television programs as the HBOminiseries From the Earth to the Moon, winner of three Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Miniseries in 1998. He produced (and provided the ongoing narration) for Fox's acclaimed comedy Arrested Development, winner of the Emmy in 2004 for Outstanding Comedy Series and in 2006 for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, as well as the NBC series, Parenthood. Howard began his career as a child actor, first appearing in two motion pictures, The Journey and The Music Man, numerous episodes of Playhouse 90, followed by his portrayal of Sheriff Andy Taylor's son Opie on the long-running television series, The Andy Griffith ShoW. Howard later starred in the popular series Happy Days and drew favorable reviews for his performances in American Graffiti and The Shootist. Setting his sights on a career as a director, Howard attended USC's Film School and eventually co-founded Imagine Entertainment with Brian Grazer in 1986 to create independently produced feature films and television. From the celebrated dramas A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 to the hit comedies Parenthood and Splash, he has created some of Hollywood's most memorable films. Howard directed and produced Cinderella Man starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe. The two had previously collaborated on A Beautiful Mind, for which Howard earned an Oscar for Best Director and which also won awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. The film garnered four Golden Globes as well, including the award for Best Motion Picture Drama. Additionally, Howard won Best Director of the Year from the Directors Guild of America. In 1995, he received his first Best Director of the Year award from the DGA for Apollo 13. The true-life drama also earned nine Academy Award nominations, winning Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. It received Best Ensemble Cast and Best Supporting Actor awards from the Screen Actors Guild. Howard produced and directed the film adaptation of Peter Morgan's critically acclaimed play Frost/Nixon. The film, which was released in December 2009, was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, and was nominated for The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures by the PGA.

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