Steven Gould's Jumper?

Yahoo News is reporting that Doug Liman, director of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" is set to start filming a movie version of Steve Gould's novel Jumper beginning in June. The novel's great, and has been optioned time and time again over the years, but just a few weeks ago I'd learned that someone bought the right outright for an impressive chunk of change. Good for Steve! Anything that allows him to devote more time to writing is good news to me. Unfortunately, when I read the Hollywood description of the story, it veers into the Twilight Zone about halfway through the second sentence.

Based on the Steven Gould novel, "Jumper" follows a kid from a broken home who discovers that he can "jump" or teleport from one place to another. In his quest for the man he believes is responsible for the death of his mother, the youngster draws the attention of both the National Security Agency and another boy who has the same abilities.

Tom Sturridge ("Being Julia") will play the protagonist, while fellow Brit
Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot") is the jumper who shows him the ropes. Australian actress Teresa Palmer ("The Grudge 2") will play the love interest.

The story also says the film is planned to be the first of a trilogy. Good news, since this means more money for Steve and his clan. But I have little hope for Hollywood to be faithful to the source material, and am even more doubtful that the most excellent sequel to Jumper, titled Reflex will bear even a passing semblance to the planned sequel.

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