Hot Topics:

Brit scribe finds his 'Rhythm' Stateside

Burnell tome is the first in a planned series of six books

By ADAM DAWTREY

Mark Burnell's 'The Rhythm Section' is heading to the bigscreen.

Virgen named Guadalajara deputy director

'Fantastic' fends off fauna, winning o'seas

Chinese thesps take seats at 'Banquet'

Anderson working on 'Master'(5545 views)

Sundance unveils competition lineup(5398 views)

Comcast, GE unveil NBC U deal(3325 views)

NBR's best: 'Up in the Air'(3253 views)

Sundance unveils complete lineup(2946 views)

Johnny Depp eyes Pancho Villa role(1900 views)

LONDON -- New Line Cinema has hired British novelist Mark Burnell to adapt his thriller "The Rhythm Section" for the bigscreen.

"The Rhythm Section," published in 1999, is the first in a planned series of six books (the fourth is due out this fall) about femme assassin Stephanie Patrick.

New Line exec veep Mark Ordesky, shepherding the project with senior veep of European production Ileen Maisel, describes it as "a female 'Bourne Identity.' "

"Rhythm Section" follows Patrick as she looks into a mysterious air crash that took the lives of her parents and brother.

"What's exciting is not just launching this franchise, but also the talent discovery of Mark Burnell," Ordesky says. "We really feel he's someone who's going to develop into something quite extraordinary."