Walt Disney Studios is set to adapt Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.

According to Deadline, Marc Forster will direct a film adaptation of Gaiman's 2008 young adult novel. David Magee has also been tapped to write the film's script. The novel tells "the story of Nobody "Bod" Owen, a young boy who is raised by the ghosts and supernatural beings of a graveyard – including, the graveyard’s caretaker Silas – after his family is murdered." The art used in the header was by P. Craig Russell and taken from the two-volume graphic novel adaptation of The Graveyard Book, which was released in 2014.

RELATED: Neil Gaiman Credits Neal Adams For Getting Him Reinvested in Comics

A film adaptation of The Graveyard Book was originally in the works back in January 2009 with Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan signed on to write and direct for Miramax, but the project fell apart sometime after CJ Entertainment acquired the rights for distribution in Korea and Japan and agreed to co-finance the adaptation in May 2010. Disney acquired the rights in April 2012 and hired Henry Selick, who had previously helmed the film adaptation of Gaiman's novel Coraline, to direct. The film then moved to Pixar, which would have been the animation company's first adapted work. Selick eventually left the project over scheduling and development differences and was replaced by Ron Howard in January 2013. The film remained stuck in development for almost a decade until Forster and Magee were hired.

The Neil Gaiman Cinematic Universe

The Graveyard Book marks the latest work of fiction by Gaiman to be adapted to film or television. Previous film adaptations include 2007's Stardust (based on his 1999 fantasy novel of the same name), 2009's Coraline (based on his 2002 dark fantasy children's novella) and 2017's How to Talk to Girls at Parties (based on the 2006 short story of the same name). Gaiman also currently serves as an executive producer on Good Omens Season 2 for Amazon's Prime Video and the upcoming The Sandman series for Netflix. Other television adaptations include the Fox/Netflix series Lucifer, which was loosely based on characters Gaiman created for DC Comics' The Sandman, and American Gods, based on the author's 2001 novel of the same name.

RELATED: Dear Marvel - Finish Neil Gaiman’s Miracleman Before Bringing Him Into Continuity

No cast or production start has been announced for The Graveyard Book at this time. Renée Wolfe, Forster's producing partner, will produce the adaptation through their 2Dux2 banner along with Gil Netter. Ben Browning will also serve as a producer on the film. Disney, Forster and Wolfe previously worked together on the Winnie Pooh live-action film Christopher Robin, which was released in 2018.

The Graveyard Book does not currently have a release date.

Source: Deadline