According to Variety, Twentieth Century Fox has optioned Sam Llewellyn's trilogy of "Little Darlings" novels, for Courtney Pledger and Sarah Radclyffe to produce through their London-based Jigsaw Films.

The Darlings are three bad children who manage to chase away every nanny their parents hire. But when Nanny Pete, who is really a burglar in drag, comes to look after them, he sweeps them off into a series of improbable adventures.

The screenplay will be written by Joe Ballarini.

The first novel "Little Darlings" was followed by the sequel "Big Bad Darlings," with a third installment currently in the works.