FROM THE NEWS ARCHIVES OF CINEMA CONFIDENTIAL

Peter Jackson to finance "The Lovely Bones"
POSTED ON 01/18/05 AT 9:00 A.M.
BY ETHAN AAMES

Variety reports that "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson and his writing/producing partner, Fran Walash, have put in their own money to option the film rights to "The Lovely Bones," the bestselling novel by Alice Sebold.

The duo acquired the rights from FilmFour, the film division of British television network Channel 4.

"The Lovely Bones" will be Peter Jackson's next directorial project after "King Kong." Jackson, Walsh and Philippa Boyens will begin adapting the novel as a screenplay next January. The movie won't be expected to be released until the fall of 2007.