Paramount Pictures has acquired the online comic book series New Kid for an animated adaptation. The studio has hired The Book of Eli screenwriter Gary Whitta to pen the adaptation.

The story puts a fresh spin on the "new kid in school" premise. New Kid centers on a young boy who is the only human attending a new school full of aliens. Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik created the online comic, which has gained a large following. The series has spawned off into its own blog, podcasts, video games, and an online TV series.

Mary Parent and Cale Boyter will produce New Kid for Paramount, which is looking to make more animated movies in-house instead of with its longtime partner, DreamWorks Animation. The recent Paramount hit Rango was the first animated project Paramount made without DreamWorks Animation. Paramount is reaching the end of its deal with DreamWorks Animation, and are said to be seeking more animated projects, in case an extension with DreamWorks Animation isn't made.

No production schedule was released for New Kid.