Paul King, who scored a worldwide hit with the acclaimed family film Paddington, has signed on to direct Wonder, Lionsgate’s adaptation of the coming-of-age novel by R.J. Palacio.
David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing via their Mandeville Films banner.
Wonder tells the heartwarming and at times hysterical adventures of a 10-year-old boy who has never attended a mainstream school due to his severe facial anomalies. He begins fifth grade at a new school where he will have to convince his peers to look beyond his surface to discover how he and they are more alike than outward appearances might suggest.
The novel has been listed for the Carnegie Medal and the UKLA Book Award, was shortlisted for the National Book Award, and has sold more than 2 million copies since its publication in 2012.
Kill Your Darlings writer-director John Krokidas was previously on board the project when it had a script by Jack Thorne.
But that was almost a year ago, and after some creative differences, the project is now emerging with a new script by Steve Conrad (The Weather Man, The Pursuit of Happyness).
King honed his skills directing British TV shows such as The Mighty Boosh and Come Fly With Me before spending years writing and directing Paddington, the CGI bear-starring adaptation of the classic Michael Bond children’s books. The film has gone on to become one of the highest grossing non-Hollywood family films of all time, earning over $258 million worldwide.
King is repped by WME, Independent Talent Group and attorney George Davis.
