Hollywood Reporter

“Coraline,” published this month by HarperCollins Children’s Books, is the story of a bored young girl who, in the course of exploring her family’s new apartment, discovers a door leading to a sinister alternate world. No cast has been announced, though a posting on Gaiman’s official Web site last week claimed that Michelle Pfeiffer was set to star. The posting has since been changed to state that the film will star a “well-known and highly thought-of actress.”

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution will release the film as part of its exclusive deal with Bill Mechanic’s Pandemonium, with “Coraline” expected to start production early next year for a late 2003 release.

“We knew we wanted to make ‘Coraline’ the minute we read Neil’s novel in galley form,” Mechanic said. “Henry Selick is a visionary filmmaker, and the perfect director to bring Neil’s spooky, alternative-universe masterpiece to life onscreen.”

In addition to the critically acclaimed “Nightmare Before Christmas,” Selick’s credits include “James and the Giant Peach” and “Monkeybone.”