Adaptation of French novel will mix live action and animation Author: Loomis (Kim Song-ho) Source: The Seoul Shinmun, The Segye Ilbo, various Official Author Site: Bernard Werber According to South Korean newspapers, the French novelist Bernard Werber`s bestseller Empire of the Ants (Les Fourmis) will be adapted into a feature film. Werber is a popular author, journalist, and playwright whose works include The Encyclopedia of Relative and Absolute Knowledge (L’Encyclopedie du Savoir Relatif et Absolu, 1993), The Thanatonauts (Les Thanatonautes, 1994), The Ultimate Secret (L’Ultime Secret, 2001), The Tree of Possibles (L’Arbre des Possibles, 2002), and The Breath of the Gods (Le Souffle des Dieux, 2005). He has also directed two short films, THE MOTHER-OF PEARL QUEEN (La Reine de Nacre, 2000) and THE HUMANS (Les Humains, 2003).

Empire of the Ants – no relation to the 1943 short story of the same name by H.G. Wells or the 1977 film by director Bert I. Gordon – was first published in 1991. It was followed by The Day of the Ants (Le Jour des Fourmis, 1992) and The Revolution of the Ants (La Revolution des Fourmis, 1996). The novel tells the stories of a man named Jonathan Wells who is investigating a mystery about his late uncle, and an ant called 327 who is betrayed by members of his tribe. The lives of these two very different characters eventually intertwine for a surprising revelation. The film version will be a South Korean-French co-production, and an amalgam of 50% live action and 50% animation. Kim Moon-saeng, of the 2003 animated feature WONDERFUL DAYS (Wondapul Deijeu, known as SKY BLUE in the U.S.) fame, will direct. Werber, who is now on tour to promote his latest directorial effort OUR EARTHMEN FRIENDS (Nos amis les Terriens) confirmed it in an interview with The Seoul Shinmun. Director Kim said to The Segye Ilbo, another South Korean newspaper, "Right now we are discussing details of the production. The film will be in English, so we expect an international cast to be involved." The film is expected to be released in 2010.