Fox Picks Up ‘Who Is Jake Ellis?’ For David Yates to Direct (Exclusive)

Fox has picked up the movie rights to Who is Jake Ellis?, an espionage comic published by Image with Harry Potter helmer David Yates attached to direct.

Chernin Entertainment’s Peter Chernin is producing.

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Described as having elements of Bourne, Memento and Fight Club, the story follows Jon Moore, a former CIA analyst and mercenary spy on the run, protected only by the mysterious title character “Jake Ellis,” a man seemingly invisible to everyone except Jon, but who has a unique knowledge of tradecraft that Jon desperately needs.

The comic, written by Nathan Edmonson and drawn by Tonci Zonjic, was followed by sequel, Where Is Jake Ellis?

The project is now out to writers.

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David Ready brought the project into Chernin and will oversee for the Fox-based banner. Jason Young brought it into Fox and will shepherd for the studio.

Ford Lytle Gilmore will exec produce.

Yates directed four of the eight Harry Potter movies, starting with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  He is currently casting up Tarzan for Warner Bros., landing Alexander Skarsgard and Christoph Waltz so far. Tarzan will shoot early next year. He is repped by CAA.

Chernin is coming off this summer’s The Heat, the action comedy which starred Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, and recently wrapped Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, which is set to open July 18, 2014.

Edmonson and Zonjic are repped by Gilmore and Harris Miller.

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