Diablo Cody takes on Sweet Valley

'Juno' writer to pen, produce Universal film
By DAVE MCNARY
Posted: Tue., Sep. 22, 2009

Diablo Cody's heading back to high school, signing on to write and produce an adaptation of the Sweet Valley High book series for Universal. Mason Novick, Adam Siegel and Marc Platt are also producing.

U agreed to a deal with Cody and her manager Novick, outbidding Fox for the project. It's in talks to acquire the film rights to the book series created by Francine Pascal and published by Random House.


The Sweet Valley novels followed the lives of identical twins with dissimilar personalities -- the sensitive and practical Elizabeth and the flighty and boy-crazy Jessica -- in the fictional town of Sweet Valley. There were more than 150 books in the series between 1983 and 2003 and a TV series with 88 episodes between 1994 and 1997.

U put out the word last week that it's not spending money for the rest of this year to advance development projects -- unless they're being fast-tracked or greenlit (Daily Variety, Sept. 18).

Deal comes on the heels of a tepid opening for Jennifer's Body, which Cody scripted.

Cody's also attached to produce "Breathers: A Zombie's Lament" for Fox Searchlight.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008999.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

I think this sounds bad. I do like Diablo Cody but I really don't think her writing style will jive with the Sweet Valley High series.

I think this sounds bad. I do like Diablo Cody but I really don't think her writing style will jive with the Sweet Valley High series.

My opinion - I think Diablo Cody is trying to be the female Kevin Smith. What I mean is trying to do strong dialogue type films that Smith is known for.

Seemed like a mistake to go into Jennifer's Body after Juno because all of the "hipster" crowd who was the main audience for that just didn't get Body. Everyone wanted to see what she was going to do next and when she announced she was writing for a horror with Megan Fox as the star it just turned those people off.

Also I would assume it's the negative rep. that Fox has with people that turned the majority away from this.


About Sweet Valley High I have to say that I'm not into this much. I saw a few eps. of the series but I just didn't get into it; I'm not the type that this show is meant to attract.

Excerpt from "If Magazine"
Published 1/9/10


Also on tap for Cody is an adaptation of the popular ‘80s teen novels SWEET VALLEY HIGH.

“I just started writing it,” says Cody.

“I’m very excited about that. It’s classic ‘80s series of books about these twins Elizabeth and Jessica and it’s going to be set in the ‘80s and true to the source material.”

http://ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=9119

I used to read Sweet Valley High growing up, liked the tv show, Britanny and Cynthia Daniel were perfect as Liz and Jessica, it'll be hard to find just the right twins for the parts

Interestingly enough, All My Children's Leven Rambin(ex-Lily) was on the cover of a few of the books:

http://www.trashionista.com/images/2008/02/07/svh.jpg

I used to read Sweet Valley High growing up, liked the tv show, Britanny and Cynthia Daniel were perfect as Liz and Jessica, it'll be hard to find just the right twins for the parts

Interestingly enough, All My Children's Leven Rambin(ex-Lily) was on the cover of a few of the books:

http://www.trashionista.com/images/2008/02/07/svh.jpg

Cool, I saw her on the Terminator show.