Fake Empire books 'Madman's Daughter'

Aguirre-Sacasa"Glee" co-producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is in talks to adapt Megan Shepherd's upcoming young adult novel "Madman's Daughter" for Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage's Fake Empire banner.The gothic thriller, which is the first in a planned trilogy of books, will be published in January by HarperCollins' Balzer + Bray imprint. Paramount Pictures optioned the book for Fake Empire last August.Schwartz and Savage will produce via Fake Empire, while Lis Rowinski, who oversees the shingle's film business, brought the project in.Aguirre-Sacasa is a versatile scribe who's active in film, TV and theater, as well as comics. He rewrote the book for the Broadway show "Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark" and has been widely credited with making the show a success. He recently completed the script for MGM/Screen Gems' remake of "Carrie," based on the Stephen King novel. In addition to serving as a co-producer on Fox's hit series "Glee," for which he penned this season's episode "The First Time," Aguirre-Sacasa also co-wrote the first season of Marvel's new "Fantastic Four" comic with David Marquez.Best known as the banner behind the CW's hit series "Gossip Girl," Fake Empire's first film, "Fun Size," hits theaters in October. In addition to producing with Savage, Schwartz directed the pic from a script by Max Werner. Fake Empire is currently developing "Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick," "Let it Snow," "The Luxe" and the Savage-scripted "The Likeness."Aguirre-Sacasa is repped by WME. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com