Narnia producer options Myst film rights

Back in 2002, SyFy partnered with Cyan Worlds to produce a live-action miniseries based on its seminal best-selling mystery game Myst. And while that adaptation never materialized, Cyan Worlds has remained open to the idea of bringing its beloved franchise to the big screen, having sold the big-screen rights to grassroots movement-cum-production company Mysteria Film Group in 2008.

Now, MFG has picked up big-time Hollywood support for its Myst film adaptation. MMC Media blog Deadline reports this week that MFG has optioned the Myst rights to producers Hunt Lowry and Mark Johnson. Lowry is perhaps best know as the executive producer on 2001's Donnie Darko, while Johnson's producer credits include 1988's Rain Man, 1997's Donnie Brasco, and the upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

According to Deadline, MFG, Johnson, and Lowry are currently searching for a writer before shopping the concept to studios. Currently, the concept largely follows the events of the Myst trilogy of books, and it's reportedly being imagined in a vein similar to The Chronicles of Narnia. One key plotline in the film will reportedly be a human who inadvertently causes the fall of the realm of Myst.

"Our aim with this project is to stretch the genres it operated within, much like the source material did," MFG president Vanderbosch told Deadline. "It is such an innovative property and by utilizing the novels as our primary resource, we have the opportunity to offer audiences the essence of Myst without being limited only to the famous island of the first game. Our focus has always been on creating an entirely new visual experience driven by engaging characters and an epic narrative."

For an idea of what may be in store for the Myst film, check out MFG's animatic trailer, below.