Variety reports that well-known screenwriter Linda Wolverton has agreed to write a screenplay based on Michael Turner's Fathom comic for James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment.  Wolverton wrote the screenplay for Disney's Beauty and the Beast as well as the book for Elton John-Tim Rice version of Aida, and she also received a writing credit on the most successful animated film of all time, Disney's The Lion King.  While a Fathom film is not just around the corner, and may well never reach production, the hiring of such a high-powered (and expensive) writer indicates that Cameron and Lightstorm are very serious about developing the property.

 

Fox originally acquired the rights to Fathom for its animation division, but when the studio decided to bag its foray into feature animation, Cameron's company took the property over with the idea of creating a live action film (see 'Film Notes').  Cameron, who has a fascination with all things nautical (see The Abyss, Titanic), was reportedly attracted by the undersea aspects of the Fathom storyline, which centers around the beautiful Aspen, who eventually discovers that she is related to mysterious race of people who evolved underwater.

 

Image's Top Cow studio, which is also responsible for the successful Witchblade TV series, published the Fathom comic, and Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri was named as a producer for the Fathom film.