The Dish: Fantasy Classic ‘The NeverEnding Story’ Subject Of Film & TV Rights Bidding War

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Children’s classic The NeverEnding Story could become the next major fantasy property to get a screen reboot.While The Rings of Power and House Of The Dragon duke it out for TV ratings, I recently asked one European studio head which fantasy property could be the next IP to pop.

Their answer: The NeverEnding Story.It turns out a handful of streamers and studios, on both sides of the Atlantic, are chasing screen rights to the beloved property by the late German author Michael Ende.

We have spoken to multiple interested parties and hear there are multi-million dollar offers on the table. German agency AVA represents the estate but declined to comment.The NeverEnding Story follows a boy who happens upon a magical book that tells of a young warrior given the task of stopping the Nothing, a dark force [Stranger Things, anyone?], from engulfing the wonderland world of Fantasia.

It’s a special tale, full of dragons, shapeshifters, giants and spectacular kingdoms. At its heart is the story of an awkward boy, trying to connect with his own family and escape from school bullies, who becomes lost (and found) in a fantastical world of danger and adventure.The 1979 book was a huge hit in Germany, sitting in the bestseller list for years.