Academy Award™ winner Anders Walter to direct live-action adaptation of the award-winning graphic novel

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 24, 2015) – Treehouse Pictures has come on to fully finance Anders Walter’s feature length directorial debut I Kill Giants, the film adaptation of Joe Kelly’s critically acclaimed graphic novel about a young misfit girl battling both real and imagined monsters in her life. Chris Columbus is producing through his 1492 Pictures/Ocean Blue Entertainment, along with Treehouse, Man of Action Entertainment and XYZ Films. Kelly, wrote the graphic novel and the screenplay adaptation.

Treehouse Pictures’ producing credits include All is Lost, Arbitrage, the romantic comedy That Awkward Moment and most recently Mediterranea, which is currently in post-production and which Treehouse financed and produced along with Chris and Eleanor Columbus’ Maiden Voyage Pictures.

Kelly is a partner in Man of Action Entertainment, creators of the team and characters in Academy Award® winner Big Hero 6, and creators of the worldwide action franchise Ben 10.

Director Walter is best known for writing and directing the 2014 Academy Award™ winning live action short Helium. I Kill Giants will be his first foray into feature length filmmaking.

I Kill Giants, illustrated by J.M. Ken Niimura, Kelly’s co-creator, won a Gaiman Award in 2013 (an overseas manga award selected by readers); the International Manga Award in 2012; was named to the “Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens” in 2010 by the Young Adult Library Services Association; as well as “Best Indy Book of 2008” by IGN and was an Eisner Award finalist.

The producers are currently casting, with production targeted for later this year. XYZ is handling world sales on the project.

Columbus states, “Joe Kelly has written a deeply insightful story about a child using fantasy to navigate through a harsh reality, and I am excited and proud to finally be able to bring this wonderful material to the screen.”

Kelly states, “I’m overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, vision and sheer talent of the team we’ve assembled. Chris and Anders understand the book on an instinctive level and will translate it into a hell of a film. I could not be happier.”

Treehouse’s president Justin Nappi states, “I am very excited to be working with Chris again. We both feel strongly that Anders has the depth and vision needed to bring the amazing story and characters of “I KILL GIANTS” to life. As exemplified by his work in “Helium” and “9 Meter”, Anders has a unique understanding of children and their uncanny ability to face life’s most difficult challenges.”

Treehouse’s president Justin Nappi states, “I am very excited to be working with Chris again. We both feel strongly that Anders has the depth and vision needed to bring the amazing story and characters of “I KILL GIANTS” to life. As exemplified by his work in “Helium” and “9 Meter”, Anders has a unique understanding of children and their uncanny ability to face life’s most difficult challenges.