With ‘Potter’ & ‘Twilight’ Winding Down, Studios Hunger for Young Adult Novels

What’s the next “Harry Potter”? How about the next “Twilight Saga”?

With Harry Potter set to conjure his last spell on the big screen next month and the last “Twilight” movie due later this year, the race is on for studios to transform the next young adult literary property into theatrical gold.

There are a number of young adult adaptations in the works: Lionsgate has its hopes pinned on “The Hunger Games,” a New York Times No. 1 bestseller due in theaters next year with Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role. Screen Gems is readying “The Mortal instruments,” first in a series of six popular books, with Lily Collins as its star.

Melissa Rosenberg, who wrote all five of Summit’s “Twilight” films, is writing and producing “Earthseed,” Paramount’s entry into the young adult novel-to-movie sweepstakes.

“‘Twilight’ did really well as movies and suddenly everyone’s like, ‘Let’s get the next of that,’” Rosenberg told TheWrap.

But it’s not easy. New Line had high hopes for “The Golden Compass” in 2007 – a bust at $70 million domestic box office on a $180 million budget.

“A popular book is no guarantee,” said Rosenberg. “What works is good storytelling.”

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