Treehouse Pictures has signed on to fully finance and produce an adaptation of I Kill Giants, with Anders Walter signing on to direct and Chris Columbus coming aboard to produce. The project is based on Joe Kelly and J.M. Ken Niimura's graphic novel of the same name. The book won the award for best graphic novel in 2010 by the Young Adult Library Services Association, and it also won the Gold Award at the Fifth International Manga Awards in 2012.

The story centers on a young girl who escapes from her troubled reality into a fantasy world where she has much more power. The project will mark the feature directorial debut of Anders Walter, who won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short at the 2014 Academy Awards for his film Helium. Here's what producer Chris Columbus had to say about the project in a brief statement.

"Joe Kelly has written a deeply insightful story about a child using fantasy to navigate through a harsh reality, and I am excited and proud to finally be able to bring this wonderful material to the screen."

Joe Kelly had this to say in his own statement about this project coming to life on the big screen.

"I'm overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, vision and sheer talent of the team we've assembled. Chris and Anders understand the book on an instinctive level and will translate it into a hell of a film. I could not be happier."

Treehouse Pictures president Justin Nappi had this to say about working with Anders Walter in his statement.

"I am very excited to be working with Chris again. We both feel strongly that Anders has the depth and vision needed to bring the amazing story and characters of I Kill Giants to life. As exemplified by his work in Helium and 9 Meter, Anders has a unique understanding of children and their uncanny ability to face life's most difficult challenges."

Joe Kelly will write the adapted screenplay for I Kill Giants. He is a part of the Man of Action Entertainment collective that is responsible for Cartoon Network's Ben 10 and creating the characters of Disney's Big Hero 6. Production is scheduled to begin later this year, with casting already under way. XYZ Films is handling worldwide sales for I Kill Giants.