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Rebecca Thomas to direct adaptation of John Green’s ‘Looking for Alaska’

Author John Green announced that Rebecca Thomas will direct the adaptation of his book "Looking for Alaska."

Author John Green announced that Rebecca Thomas will direct the adaptation of his book “Looking for Alaska.”

(Justin Tallis / AFP/Getty Images)
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“Looking for Alaska” has found its director. Relative newcomer Rebecca Thomas will helm Paramount Pictures’ long-gestating adaptation of the young-adult novel by “The Fault in Our Stars” author John Green.

Green confirmed the news on his Twitter account, writing: “Big announcement! The Looking for Alaska movie has its director, the brilliant Becca Thomas (@beccalouthomas). IT IS REALLY HAPPENING.”

Thomas, who made her feature debut with the 2013 indie “Electrick Children” (read The Times’ review) responded to Green’s tweet: “Couldn’t be more thrilled to bring the epic Looking for Alaska to life! @johngreen writes words that mean the most.”

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She will direct from a script by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, who also adapted Green’s “Fault” and upcoming “Paper Towns.”

“Alaska,” Green’s first novel, tells the story of Miles, a Florida teen who goes to prep school in Alabama for his junior year and falls for an enigmatic girl named Alaska.

Paramount acquired rights to the book in 2005, and the project languished in development until Green became a publishing phenom and “Fault” grossed more than $300 million at the worldwide box office.

At one point — a year ago today, in fact — Green tweeted that Sarah Polley would write and direct “Alaska,” but obviously that’s no longer the case. This time, he insists, it’s really happening.

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