Paramount Pictures has hired writer/actor Jason Mantzoukas to pen the long-brewing adaptation of Paul Pope's 2013 graphic novel "Battling Boy," Deadline reports.

Patrick Osborne, director of Disney's Oscar-winning animated short "Feast," has been attached to the project since July. Paramount acquired the film rights to "Battling Boy" in 2008 for Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment.

Published by First Second Books, Pope's superhero/fantasy opus centers on on the 12-year-old son of a war god who's sent by his father to rid Arcopolis of monsters after Haggard West, the previous protector of the continent-sized city, is assassinated. The graphic novel spawned two spinoffs, "The Rise of Aurora West" and "The Death of Haggard West."

Perhaps best recognized for his roles on "Parks and Recreation," "The League" and "Transparent," Mantzoukas' writing credits also include "Childrens Hospital" and "The League."