Warner Bros snaps up rights to YA novel, The Young World

Best known for directing 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' and 'The Golden Compass', as well as working with his brother, Paul Weitz, on the comedy films, 'American Pie' and 'About a Boy', Chris Weitz is also a novelist.

His first book, The Young World, which will be published later this year by Little Brown, has been snapped up by Warner  Bros according to 'The Hollywood Reporter'. Weitz will adapt the book and also direct. His Depth of Field production company will produce, along with Andrew Miano.

[Fifth American Pie film 'likely']

'The Young World' is the first in a trilogy about teenagers attempting to survive after a cataclysmic event kills everyone except those between the ages of 12 and 21. The survivors inherit a destroyed and desolate earth. Ill-equipped to restore society to working order, the residents of New York City must try to rebuild their world from the ground up.

American-born, Weitz, 43, has box-office clout. His film adaptation of 'New Moon' from the series of 'Twilight' books grossed more than $700 million worldwide. 'About a Boy', earned him and his brother, Paul, an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

["Kristen Stewart is so expressionless she might as well be a brick wall"]

Weitz most recently directed 2011's 'A Better Life', which starred Demian Bichir who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.

Chantal Nong brought the project into the studio and will oversee with Lynn Harris.