Lionsgate has tapped “Mean Girls” director Mark Waters to handle the movie version of middle school comedy “Dork Diaries”, Variety reports.

The studio picked up movie rights to Rachel Renee Russell’s book series last year. There are nine installments of “Dork Diaries” with over 21 million copies in print.

The story centers on 14-year-old Nikki Maxwell dealing with friends and enemies at a new school. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing’s Aladdin imprint published the books, starting with “Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life” in 2009.

Annie Hendy wrote the script for the movie. John Sacchi is producing.

Besides “Mean Girls,” Waters’ directing credits include “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” “Freaky Friday,” “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” and “Vampire Academy.”

The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.