Mandate, Mr. Mudd team for 'Towns'

'Paper' based on John Green's new novel

By TATIANA SIEGEL

Mandate Pictures and John Malkovich's Mr. Mudd shingle will team on a bigscreen adaptation of "Paper Towns," based on John Green's just-published novel.

High school romp centers on Quentin, who is drafted by the school's queen of cool, Margo, to be her accomplice in an all-night spree of revenge against her superjock ex-boyfriend. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, Quentin makes the most of the opportunity for unrivaled proximity to his dream girl.

"Paper Towns" marks the second project Mandate has bought for Mr. Mudd since the shingle inked a first-look deal with Mandate in July. The two companies are also developing "Broken City," a noir drama with a political twist written by playwright Brian Tucker.

"John Green is funny, smart and wildly talented. We are having a blast working with him," said Russell Smith, who is producing along with his Mr. Mudd partners Malkovich and Lianne Halfon.

Mandate's Nathan Kahane exec produces. Mary Lee, who brought the project into the production and finance company, will co-produce.

"Paper Towns," Green's third novel, was published Oct. 16 by Dutton Books.

Green's first book, "Looking for Alaska," was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Josh Schwartz penned the adaptation for Paramount and is attached to direct. Green, along with his brother Hank, is also the co-creator and co-star of the videoblog Brotherhood 2.0.