Fox 2000 has picked up film rights to British author Catherine Fisher's young-adult dystopian fantasy novel Incarceron, planning to adapt into a feature franchise.

According to Variety, John Palermo will produce via Seed Prods., Palermo and Hugh Jackman's Fox-based shingle. Incarceron is a priority for Fox 2000 and Seed, with the project going out to directors and writers to adapt. At least two other studios were vying for the film rights.

Published just three weeks ago in the U.S., Fisher's book immediately won a slot on the New York Times children's bestsellers list. Tome was published in the U.K. in 2007.

Incarceron tells the story of a young boy who lives in a prison that is a complete society; outside the prison, the world is stuck in the 17th century and run by computers. The boy comes into contact with the warden's daughter, who lives in her own sort of jail, and they find a key that can change everything.

No production date has been announced.