Hot Sci-fi Project: Which Studio Will Nab 'Enders Game'?

Ender’s Game, one of the buzziest sci-fi projects in recent memory, is making the rounds at Hollywood studios Tuesday.

The package for the screen adaptation of the Orson Scott Card novel hit nearly every studio, from Warner Bros. to Disney to Sony, as well as financing companies. Follow-up meetings are scheduled this week.

Here’s the package: a script by Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), who is also attached to direct, with Star Trek superproducers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci producing along with Gigi Pritzker of OddLot Entertainment.

The 1985 novel is set in a future where the Earth is under attack by an insect-like race and mankind has created a battle school to train fighting forces. In this environment enters Ender Wiggin, a kid who is tormented by bullies and an older brother but proves to be a master at a three-dimensional, zero-gravitity laser tag-like game. That sets him on a path as a possible savior of the human race.

The novel won a Nebula Award as well as a Hugo Award and was followed by five books. Marvel Comics also adapted the novels into the four-color world.

About a decade ago, the project was set up at Warners, with Wolfgang Petersen (The Perfect Storm) attached to direct. But the rights eventually lapsed.

Warners might want the property back, and its reputation as one of the more director-centric studios when it comes to big tentpoles might give it an edge. But DreamWorks, which is about to launch a teen sci-fi franchise with I Am Number Four, has its hooks out too, since Kurtzman and Orci call it home.