Zemeckis to Direct Disney’s Dark Life

Robert Zemeckis has signed on to direct an adaptation of Kat Falls‘ upcoming young adult novel Dark Life for Walt Disney Pictures.
Variety is reporting that Zemeckis and the Gotham Group agreed to a deal to adapt Kat Falls’ sci-fi book, which takes place in an apocalyptic, waterworld future and centers on the adventures of a young man, Ty, living under the sea.
Disney is excited about the project for a number of reasons. First off, the acquisition fits well with Disney’s latest push to develop long-term properties with cross-generational appeal. Better yet, the book could launch a potential franchise.

Here’s the official synopsis of the book [Amazon]
Set in an apocalyptic future where rising oceans have swallowed up entire regions and people live packed like sardines on the dry land left, DARK LIFE is the harrowing tale of underwater pioneers who have carved out a life for themselves in the harsh deep-sea environment, farming the seafloor in exchange for the land deed.
The story follows Ty, who has lived his whole life on his family’s homestead and has dreams of claiming his own stake when he turns eighteen. But when outlaws’ attacks on government supply ships and settlements…

Dark Life comes to theaters in 2012.