FilmNation has come on co-produce and handles sales on the live-action feature A Tale Dark & Grimm to be directed by Henry Selick.

Marissa McMahon of New York-based Kamala Films will finance development and produce alongside FilmNation Entertainment’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. It is understood FilmNation will not commence pre-sales at next month’s AFM and will introduce the film to a subsequent market.

A Tale Dark & Grimm is based on the children’s book by Adam Gidwitz and is described as “wickedly funny, truly frightening” tale of two children who flee their own dark fairy tale and stray into eight equally fearsome adventures.

Selick’s directing credits include A Nightmare Before Christmas, James And The Giant Peach and the Oscar-nominated Coraline. He co-adapted the screenplay with John W Mann and Jon Gunn.

“I remain completely enraptured by Adam Gidwitz’ marvelous book A Tale Dark & Grimm,” said Selick. “It’s a hilarious, deeply inventive tale about survival in the world of fairytales and what it takes to forgive one’s parents.

“So it’s a huge thrill to be joining the team of Kamala Films and FilmNation as the director of the film based on it. Between the great material and a team that really gets it, I hope to make something really special that lasts.”

Kamala Film’s McMahon and FilmNation’s Lunder said: “We could not dream of a better filmmaker for A Tale Dark & Grimm than Henry Selick. He is a unique and visionary storyteller whose work deftly walks the line between darkness and light in a way that is perfect for this project. We are thrilled to be working with him.”

Ellen Goldsmith Vein of the Gotham Group and George Davis of Nelson Davis Wetzstein represent Selick.

Kamala Films’ production slate includes the Marie Colvin project to star Charlize Theron based on a screenplay by Arash Amel and Jeff Guinn’s Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story Of Bonnie And Clyde.

Among FilmNation’s sales roster are Nebraska, All Is Lost as well as J C Chandor’s upcoming A Most Violent Year, Anton Corbijn’s Life, Genius starring Colin Firth and Bill Condon’s Sherlock Holmes tale A Slight Trick Of The Mind.

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