Emily Carmichael To Direct ‘Lumberjanes’ Live-Action Adaptation

When it comes to feature film adaptations of comic books, you can keep your grim cape-man broods for three hours action fests, because the project we're most excited to see on the silver screen is Boom Studios' Lumberjanes. Plans for an live-action movie had been announced already, but the project has made one big leap towards reality now that rising star Emily Carmichael has signed on to direct.

The Wrap broke the news that Carmichael has joined the film as director, and that 20th Century Fox sees the film as a high priority. Carmichael has a lot of buzz around her following a string of successful short films, and at one point was rumored to be in the running to direct Marvel's Captain Marvel. The first draft of the script has been written by Will Widger, so it's likely the wheels are well in motion to have Lumberjanes out in the next few years.

Created by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooke Allen and Noelle Stevenson, the comic stars the girls of Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types as they bond, earn scout badges, and investigate the strange three-eyed beings that have been seen around camp.

The comic is often lauded for its feminist, pro-LGBT themes, and its inclusiveness and positive message have made it a hit both creatively and commercially. In 2015, Lumberjanes won Best New Series and Best Publication for Teens at the Eisner Awards, and it has twice been nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book, winning in 2016.

Lumberjanes continues to go from strength to strength and the characters are currently engaged in a crossover with the teens from DC Comics' Gotham Academy. 

The film is one of two possible Noelle Stevenson-related features at Fox, as the studio is also looking to adapt her original graphic novel Nimona, with Patrick Osborne attached to direct.

[An earlier version of this post incorrectly listed Lumberjanes as an animated film rather than live action. It has since been updated to reflect that correction. - Ed.]