By RUSSELL BAILLIE
Peter Jackson may be filming another heavenly creature.
The follow-up to his remake of King Kong could be an adaptation of American writer Alice Sebold's bestseller The Lovely Bones.
The story is about murdered 14-year-old Susie who, from heaven, studies the effect of her disappearance on her family and friends while trying to point the way to her missing body.
American movie paper Variety has reported that Jackson and writing partners Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens are in talks over the rights to Sebold's book which has languished during its development from page to screen.
Jackson has frequently said he had wanted to do a smaller, special effects-free film after the Lord of the Rings trilogy, before the profitable deal came along to redo Kong, a project which is likely to keep him busy until the end of 2005.
The metaphysical crime story of The Lovely Bones suggests it might be closer in tone and scope to his and Walsh's Oscar-nominated Heavenly Creatures - another story of adolescence and murder.
Variety reports that the New Zealand trio's interest in the book has sparked interest in Hollywood studios which had earlier passed on it.
The rights are held by troubled British film company FilmFour and producer Aimee Peyronnet.
She had earlier got as far as hiring Scottish art-house director Lynne Ramsay and a writer to adapt the work.
But the film has languished without a backer until Jackson and his partners expressed their interest. Talks are at an early stage, said Variety, and none of the parties will comment.
Peter Jackson eyes another heavenly plot
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