(Variety, Jan. 29, Michael Fleming)

Trevor Sands adapting Dan Simmons’ novels

The Day the Earth Stood Still” helmer Scott Derrickson is set to direct “Hyperion Cantos” for Warner Bros. and GK Films.

Derrickson boards a project that will take two Dan Simmons sci-fi novels — “Hyperion” and “The Fall of Hyperion” — and meld them into one film being scripted by Trevor Sands.

Story is set in the distant future, as a space war threatens Hyperion, a planet known for the Time Tombs — large artifacts that can move through time and are guarded by a gruesome monster called the Shrike.

Sands co-wrote and directed the 2002 film “Inside.” Recently he’s worked on Dimension’s “Six Million Dollar Man” and adapted the David Brin sci-fi novel “Startide Rising” for Paramount.

Derrickson is also attached to direct “Paradise Lost” at Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Derrickson also co-scripted “Devil’s Knot” for Dimension Films with Paul Boardman, his writing partner on “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.”

King just wrapped “Edge of Darkness” with Mel Gibson.