Deadline is reporting that the bestselling illustrated novel series N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley is being developed as an animated family feature by Elton John’s Rocket Pictures. Originally launched in 2009, the N.E.R.D.S. series follows a group of social outcasts who run a spy ring under the cover of their elementary school. Facing threats from within their school halls and outside, the N.E.R.D.S. series has published three volumes so far with more planned.

Series creator Michael Buckley is a long-time children’s book author, and was a co-creator and producer of the short-lived 2011 Cartoon Network series Robotomy. Buckley is in line to write the feature adaptation of N.E.R.D.S. himself.

Rocket Pictures produced last year’s Gnomeo & Juliet for Disney, and is currently developing Will Gallows And The Snake Bellied Troll with Shrek 2‘s Kelly Asbury to write and direct.

Chris Arrant

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