Disney has acquired the feature film rights to Tony Cliff’s graphic novel series “Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant”, Variety said.
The studio is developing a live-action film with Roy Lee producing through his Vertigo Entertainment banner along with Mark Mower and Justin Giritkian, who secured the rights.
The story centers on Delilah Dirk, a 19th century adventurer, who plots to rob a corrupt Sultan in Constantinople evades the Sultan’s guards with the aid of her flying boat. She’s aided by her new friend, a Turkish tea-master Erdemoglu Selim, who becomes duty-bound to follow her across Turkey after she saves his life.
Miri Yoon is overseeing for Vertigo and Tendo Nagenda and Chaz Salembier are overseeing for Disney.
The book became a New York Times bestseller in 2013. No director, writer or actors are attached yet.
Lee broke into Hollywood by executive producing remakes of Asian films such as “The Ring,” “The Eye,” “The Grudge” and Oscar best picture winner “The Departed.” He’s also produced “The Lego Movie” and its spinoffs, “Poltergeist,” “The Boy” and “Run All Night.”
Vertigo has a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Pictures.
The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.