Chris Wedge, who previously directed Ice Age, has signed on to direct The Invention Of Hugo Cabret for Graham King's GK Films, Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil and Warner Bros.

John Logan, who worked with King on The Aviator and also on a forthcoming animated project for Gore Verbinski, will adapt the screenplay from Brian Selznick's bestselling children's novel.

The story is set in 1930s Paris, when an orphan boy named Hugo living in a train station who meets an eccentric girl and a bitter old man who are drawn into a mystery involving a mechanical man and a message from Hugo's dead father.

King and Infinitum Nihil's Christi Dembrowski will produce the film. Warner and GK acquired screen rights to the book in 2007. Warner Bros Pictures' Kevin McCormick and Jon Berg will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. Gail Lyon and Grey Rembert will oversee the project for GK Films.

The live-action story will start shooting in the autumn.

King said, 'I am really excited to be working with Chris. I found his vision for Hugo to be truly exhilarating.'

The deal doesn't effect Wedge's affiliation with Blue Sky Pictures, which has a deal at 20th Century Fox. In addition to Ice Age, he worked with Fox on Robots and as executive producer of Horton Hears A Who!

Wedge is represented by UTA and attorney Nancy Newhouse Porter of Newhouse Porter Hubbard. John Logan is repped by CAA.

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