The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan, the first book in the "Ranger's Apprentice" fantasy series.
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Haggis Confirmed for RANGERS APPRENTICE
By: Jarrod Sarafin, News EditorDate: Thursday, January 31, 2008
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Two-time Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby, Crash) has just inked a nonexclusive deal with United Artists, which will give him an opportunity to produce, write and direct at least two features a year through his new production company Hwy61. As we announced earlier this month, United Artists took on the rights to the Ranger's Apprentice fantasy series and this latest deal with Haggis has him writing the screenplay alongside his daughter and possibly directing.
The team will also get to work adapting the Joseph Weisberg novel An Ordinary Spy, though the trade doesn't say whether he will do anything but produce it through his Hwy61 shingle.
Plot Concept: Australian author John Flanagan's first book in the "Ranger" fantasy series, "The Ruins of Gorlan," was released in Australia in November 2004 and seven months later in the United States. It follows the adventures of an orphan named Will who becomes an apprentice ranger and fights to keep the mythical kingdom of Araluen safe from invaders, traitors and other dangers with the help of his master Halt. Seven books have been released to date.
"Spy" Plot Concept: The novel by Weisberg plays out like some real life sensitive documents that have been released to the public, complete with blackened texts (Redacted) as if a government official went through his novel hiding names and locations. In the novel, Mark Ruttenberg may not be fit for the CIA. Early in his tenure with the agency, he learns about a former operative, Bobby Goldstein, and becomes curious about the case that led to his termination. Before he can get to the bottom of what happened, however, he’s shipped off to [REDACTED], where he hobnobs with foreign diplomats and informants, who have access to [REDACTED] information and contacts like the powerful General [REDACTED], in the hopes of recruiting them as agents. But, when he falls for the wrong woman, he’s quickly sent back to [REDACTED], with nothing to show for his secretive work but a mysterious postcard with an unknown address on it. Who sent the postcard, and where is it supposed to lead him? Could this all be an ops test, with Mark’s future hanging in the balance? Soon, he’ll have to decide if righting an old wrong is worth taking a terrible and very personal risk.
