Brett Ratner to Direct Film Adaptation of The 39 Clues

The film adaptation of The 39 Clues series of young adult adventure thrillers is taking a step forward.

Brett Ratner (Prison Break, Chaos) is on board to direct the DreamWorks production from a script by Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can, Rush Hour 3). The project has been in the planning stages since at least 2008, when the first book in the series was published. The most recent information we have is that the film won't be released until 2013 or 2014.

The 39 Clues started as a series of 10 books featuring siblings Amy and Dan Cahill in a race around the world to discover the secret to the family's secret power. A second phase of the series, which is to consist of 6 books, began last month with the publication of Vesper's Rising.

(Source: Deadline|New York.)