Jones grabs 'Flint' for Material

Novel is 'Treasure Island' prequel

By ADAM DAWTREY, ANNE THOMPSON

London-based producer Material Entertainment has acquired screen rights to rookie adventure writer John Drake’s “Flint & Silver,” a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island.”

Book, which is set to be published by HarperCollins later this year, paints in the details on the fierce rivalry between Captain Flint and John Silver that eventually exploded in the Stevenson classic. Two further prequels are incorporated in the rights deal. Jones is already approaching several writers to adapt the screenplay.

Material’s first picture, “Run, Fat Boy, Run,” which topped the U.K. box office four weeks running in late 2007, will be released by Picturehouse thismonth.