Mark Burnett is embarking on a new film adventure, snatching up the feature rights to the children's fantasy book series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, according to Variety.

The first volume in author Michael Scott's six-part series, dubbed "The Alchemyst," will be published by Random House Children's Books in May. The Survivor guru plans to begin talking with potential studios in the next few weeks about coming aboard to produce.

Burnett, who's read "The Alchemyst" as well as the first chapter in the series' second volume, said Scott's books "have the scope of 'The Lord of the Rings' and the charm and intrigue of 'Harry Potter.' "

The Flamel character -- possibly a real 15th century French alchemist -- carries a bit of name recognition in the fantasy book-reading crowd. Most recently, J.K. Rowling has mentioned him in her "Harry Potter" books, making Flamel a friend of Albus Dumbledore.

Scott's take on Flamel brings the immortal character into the 21st century, where he's a 600-year-old man (who looks to be 50) living in San Francisco. The books focus on Sophie and Josh Newman, a pair of teenage fraternal twins who find themselves caught up in an age-old battle between good and evil.

The first books in the series have the twins racing across America, learning the ancient ways of magic even as they're hunted by creatures and beings from the mythologies of a dozen nations. Flamel serves as their teacher and guide.