Seoul-based production and sales outfit Mirovision has picked up international rights to $25m stereoscopic 3D CGI production Empire Of The Ants, which is an adaptation of French author Bernard Werber’s novel Les Fourmis.

Korea’s Anima House and Wonderworld Studios are producing the English-language feature, which is expected to start production this summer for delivery in September 2014. It will be directed by Kim Moon-saeng whose credits include big-budget Korean animation Wonderful Days.

Les Fourmis, Werber’s first novel which has drawn comparisons to Watership Down, is set in an imaginary animal world where boats are built from leaves and greenflies are domesticated and milked like cows.

The novel has sold more than 18 million copies in over 40 countries worldwide. The planned adaptation will entirely comprise digital 3D CGI. Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) invested in the development of the project.

The project has been scripted by Kim Se-jung and Kay Hwang (Wonderful Days) and Young Gi Lee will produce.

Mirovision is screening a promo of the film in Cannes.