THR reports that Max Brooks – author of the popular WORLD WAR Z novel (that became the basis for the blockbuster Brad Pitt film) – has sold the rights to his latest book DEVOLUTION: A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF THE RAINIER SASQUATCH MASSACRE to Legendary Entertainment. As the title explicitly implies, this is Brooks' take on the famous "Bigfoot (a.k.a. Sasquatch)" myth – and like WORLD WAR Z – the book takes the form of collected documents and scientific observations, rather than a straightforward narrative. Here's the official synopsis:
The story is set in a model eco-community town in the shadow of Mt. Rainier that, in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption, is rampaged by ferocious beasts known as the Sasquatch. The tale is told via the lens of town resident Kate Holland. It is described as “part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction.”
Sounds cool to me! I loved the way Brooks deconstructed and found a new angle to the stale zombie genre with his original horror opus, so let's hope he can do the same here! Also, unlike WWZ, there seems to be a main character in this story – rather than the collected stories of his previous effort – so that if there has to be a Hollywood adaptation (which there obviously doesn't, but that's what's being reported on at the moment), at least it might be easier to adapt and not get mangled beyond recognition in the process. In fact, the idea was initially developed as a film/TV project before Brooks switched gears to make it a book first (which might explain its more cinematic set-up).
Meanwhile, Brook's book is available to purchase RIGHT NOW!
So what do you guys think? Fans of Max Brooks' work? If so, you excited for a new film based on it? Either way, sound off below!