The Mortal Instruments Moves Forward with 2013 Release Date
Posted 04.04.12 by reelz
Since Twilight became an international sensation, studios have been trying to crack into the zeitgeist Summit Entertainment created by adapting the first of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling YA novel series.
Lionsgate answered first with The Hunger Games (currently enjoying its second week of being #1 at the box office) and, for good measure, purchased Summit in January just so IT wouldn't miss out on the box office receipts that The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 will reap when it opens in November.
Sony is now ready to compete with Lionsgate's hold on young adults. The studio's genre arm has scheduled a release date for its adaptation of The Mortal Instruments — a little over a month after it had reportedly decided not to pursue the movie at all.
Back in 2010, we pegged The Mortal Instruments as the franchise that could ascend to the Twilight throne of 'tween movie franchises. But this February, Sony's Screen Gems pulled out of the production, leaving German production company (and Mortal Instruments rights holder) Constantin Film to find a new partner to produce the movie with. Turns out that "new" partner is the old partner, as Screen Gems and Constantin finalized a deal last week to adapt the first of Cassandra Clare's prolific young adult fantasy series, City of Bones.
Lily Collins is already set to play teenager Clary Fray, who learns that she is a descendent of the Shadowhunters, a clandestine order of half-angel warriors who protect humanity from demons, vampires, werewolves, and whatever else gets in the way. Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid) is set to direct, taking over from Scott Stewart (Priest), who left the project in February.
Box Office Mojo reports that The Mortal Instruments will arrive on August 23, 2013. Production will reportedly start in August, leaving Zwart a few months to cast the movie. With only Collins confirmed for the movie, that leaves plenty of roles available, so try casting the movie with our Mortal Instruments Cast-o-Rama.