JACKSON SEEKING STUDIO PARTNER FOR 'BONES,' NEW LINE NOT AMONG CANDIDATES (VAR, DHD)

By Nancy Vialatte

Peter Jackson�s spec script for �The Lovely Bones,� co-written with Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, started making the studio rounds on Monday.

The film will be based on the novel by Alice Sebold which tells the story of a 14-year-old girl who is raped and killed but whose spirit keeps watch over her family and her killer.

Variety points out that Jackson is something of an anomaly among big-budget directors since he is without a studio deal. However, this has given him the freedom to develop �Bones� at his own pace.

A source told Deadline Hollywood Daily, "It went out today to almost everybody and the offers are across the board." But, it did not go to New Line � which is no surprise given the ongoing legal dispute between Jackson and the studio over "Lord of the Rings" royalties.

As of early Monday evening, says Variety, the bidding for "Bones" had not yet begun in earnest. In addition to the majors, the project was sent to smaller companies, including United Artists.

Jackson bought the "Bones" rights from FilmFour in 2004 and has continually insisted that "Bones" would be his next directing project after "King Kong."