It's been announced that something wicked for the whole family is coming to Netflix by way of an adaptation of author Joe Ballarini three-book children's series A Babysitter's Guide to Monsters. Published courtesy of the HarperCollins imprint Katherine Tegen Books, the series centers on an apathetic babysitter who doesn’t like kids very much and is horrified to discover that the child she is sitting for has been stolen by monsters. It’s her responsibility along, with a secret society of baby sitters who do battle against the creatures of the night, to save the child and the world from things that go bump in the night. (via Deadline).
Walden Media and Montecito Pictures Company are producing, with word ont he street being that they've been developing the project for several years. Ivan Reitman and Amie Karp will produce, with Naia Cucukov of Walden Media, Tom Pollock, and Ilona Herzberg executive producing. Set to helm the project is Rachel Talalay, who in recent times has lent her talents to directing select episodes of Netflix's THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, in addition to The CW's RIVERDALE, SUPERGIRL and THE FLASH. She's also arrived as a featured director for BBC's SHERLOCK and DOCTOR WHO. Oh, and she was also the helmer of FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE and the cult classic TANK GIRL starring Lori Petty. If you ask me, that's a mighty fine resume, and I can easily see why Netflix moved to scoop her up for the Babysitter's series of films.
When the trilogy creeps its way onto Netflix, the three installments will be based on Ballarini’s A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, which includes the follow-up chapters A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting #2: Beats & Geeks and A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting #3: Mission to Monster Island. Hmm, is anyone else getting some Percy Jackson and The Sister's Grimm vibes from this announcement? I know that I certainly am, and that's very exciting indeed. After all, the world could always do with a bit more family-friendly fantasy flicks.