Percival to helm 'Book Thief'

John Percival originates onto direct "It Crook" for Fox 2000. The British director has helmed multiple segs of "Downton Abbey." Fox 2000 optioned youthful-adult novel "It Crook" in 2006 and arrange it with Karen Rosenfelt. The variation continues to be compiled by Michael Petroni. Fox 2000 hopes to stay in production this summer time. Composed by Australian author Markus Zusak, the 550-page, World war 2-era novel is read by Dying and informs the storyline of Liesel Meminger from the moment she's taken at 9 to reside having a promote family inside a German working-class neighborhood. Liesel arrives getting just stolen her first book, "The Gravediggers Guide" -- marking the start of an appreciation affair with books. Percival is repped through the Gotham Group. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com