The deal with authors Cassandra Clare and Holly Black for the unpublished series follows the adventures of 12-year-old Callum Hunt and his interaction with magicians. The Iron Trial is the first in the series.

Scholastic acquired North American publishing rights to the series in a pre-emptive deal.

Clare wrote Simon & Schuster’s The Mortal Instruments series while Black is the author of The Spiderwick Chronicles through the same publisher.

Clare and Black will adapt the screenplay and serve as executive producers while Constantin Film’s Robert Kulzer will serve as producer.

“When we first heard about this new series, it was a no-brainer for us that we wanted to be involved,” Kulzer said. “Cassandra Clare and Holly Black are exceptionally gifted writers, each having created spectacular fantasy worlds and inspired millions of readers. We couldn’t be more ecstatic to continue our relationship with Cassandra and to welcome Holly to the team.”

Constantin and Unique Features are in pre-production on The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones, the first book in the series. Harald Zwart will direct Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell-Bower. Kulzer and Unique Features’ Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne are producing and production is set to begin in Toronto on Aug 15. 

The Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith Vein represents Clare and Black. On the literary side, Russell Galen of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency represents Clare and Barry Goldblatt of Barry Goldblatt Literary represents Black.