"Sweet Valley High" filtered through Diablo Cody?
That is exactly what Universal is doubling down on, in negotiations to pick up the rights to the long-running book series, with Cody attached to adapt. Cody also will produce with Mason Novick as well as Marc Platt.
Cody's formative years were informed by the books, which centered on the lives of two teenage girls, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, who lived in the fictional town of Sweet Valley, Calif. Jessica was the more conniving and materialistic of the sisters, and usually needed help from the more practical Elizabeth when her schemes went awry.
The series, created by Francine Pascal, made its debut in 1983, publishing 150-plus books with more than 60 million copies in print. The last one came out January 2003.
Cody and Novick tracked down the rights and developed a take, taking the package to the town last week. The combination of Cody and the well-remembered books caused a bidding situation that also involved Fox 2000 and Mandate.
Adam Siegel brought the project into Marc Platt Prods.
Cody is repped by Gersh.
NO!!!! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN! SHE WILL RUIN IT.
Posted by: CADY | September 22, 2009 at 05:14 PM
ummm wasn't sweet valley high already done?
Posted by: Derek | September 22, 2009 at 05:16 PM
This needs to happen now.
Posted by: Erin | September 22, 2009 at 06:10 PM
Are you serious? This is a horrible, horrible idea.
Posted by: johnny | September 22, 2009 at 06:21 PM
If I don't get tickets to the premiere.... *shaking fist*
:)
Posted by: Dwanollah | September 22, 2009 at 08:20 PM
I support this 100%. As a writer who grew up with the Sweet Valley High books -- make that, whined after finishing one until the next one came out -- and knows more about Diablo Cody than just Juno, I have full confidence that she's the perfect voice to bring the twins to life. Cody gets the tension of being a teen girl, the good-girl-bad-girl pull, and that's exactly what Francine Pascal personified with the Wakefield sisters. The only way this could get any better is if the guy who directed Adventureland signs on. Pure awesomeness.
Posted by: Melissa | September 22, 2009 at 09:36 PM
OMG no way dude, of all the girls out there why this one?? I mean really!
Jessi
www.online-privacy.us.tc
Posted by: Jessi Woods | September 23, 2009 at 07:01 AM
I wonder if she knows about Sweet Valley Diaries... http://www.sweetvalleydiaries.com
Posted by: Marissa | September 23, 2009 at 08:14 AM
*puke* *vomit* *gag* Please stop her.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=722696746 | September 23, 2009 at 08:42 AM
Diablo Cody is ruining movies.
Posted by: Joy | September 23, 2009 at 12:02 PM
I read "Juno," so far the only source material I've budded up on "Dragon Stomp." FEEDING TIME! FEED! FEED THE DRAGON!
"ALIEN NINJA AKUMA"
Micheal Curry of Mandate has less paper-work now, surely a buck and half for Cody though.
Yeah, I'd bring my roll.
Chow, Ed
Posted by: E. C. McCready | September 23, 2009 at 12:41 PM
I find it terrifying that she had one really well received independent movie, one Showtime original series, one mid-grade horror movie and now she's being given this?
I can't handle it, I'm all for wonderful success stories but hers is just to fishy.
She quits advertising to make her stripping hobby a full time job and marries her internet boyfriend. Then she's suddenly whisked into the world of high end movie making getting talented people like Ellen Page and "big names" like Megan Fox? How does that even happen? And don't give me the "Well she's cool and hip" answer cause in Hollywood, with its suit wearing head up their rears types and lack of ideas, that couldn't be possible..
Any one else get the feeling that she's the basis of the "Rock band sacrifices a chick to the devil to become famous" idea, cause it seems like she has experience in the subject and she didn't seem to screw it up like her characters did.. Maybe someone should be searching for the body or something..
Posted by: BoomingEchoes | September 25, 2009 at 03:56 PM
I don't know why everyone is so horrified by this idea. We don't know in what direction she's going to take this, but I think it could be really great.
E. C., I'm not really sure what you're getting at unless you really think the devil is involved. How is it fishy for her to have had mild success in movies and to now get the rights to a really terrible, albeit well known, book series?
Posted by: Shannon | September 26, 2009 at 06:18 AM
I LOVE the SVH books. It was a part of my growing up. I now have a very strong desire to read the books again.
Posted by: freisprechanlage | October 10, 2009 at 03:15 AM
No casting details have been announced, so it's a mystery who will play the Wakefield twins. Somehow we're thinking it won't be Megan Fox. But, then again, you never know.
Posted by: r4 | October 26, 2009 at 06:20 AM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading alot . I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Thanks ...
Jonathan Brown
Posted by: Jonathan Brown | November 24, 2009 at 06:55 AM