Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc. has teamed with Emmy nominated producer Barnet Bain (What Dreams May Come, Homeless to Harvard) to acquire screen rights to Eckhart Tolle and Robert S. Friedman's children's book, Milton's Secret: An Adventure of Discovery through Then, When, and the Power of Now.
Tolle, a Canadian spiritual teacher and the best-selling author of The Power of Now and A New Earth, which have sold more than 11 million copies, wrote Milton's Secret with Friedman as his first work of fiction.
The story, being adapted as a live-action family film, centers on a boy who discovers that his obsession with pre-teen fears, shaky parental relationships, confidence issues and mistreatment by his schoolmates are preventing him from finding true happiness through living in the Now. Donald Martin (Dim Sum Funeral, The Christmas Choir) is writing the screenplay.
Bain, who most recently directed The Lost & Found Family, acquired by Sony for release this fall, says, "We get to tell this inspiring story and, at the same time, help as many people as we can-kids and parents-to stop stressing and start living."
"We're delighted to be able to bring to life this extraordinary first fiction work from Eckhart and Robert," Peace Arch Entertainment CEO John Flock says. "In this age of anxiety, its lessons will ring as true to movie-goers as they have to the countless fans of Eckhart's best-selling books."
Milton's Secret was co-authored by Friedman, president of Hampton Roads Publishing Company, and co-published by Hampton Roads and Namaste Publishing in Vancouver.
Peace Arch Entertainment and Barnet Bain Films will produce, with Tolle, Friedman and Constance Kellough serving as executive producers.
