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 push the button with Karen Rosenfelt. The variation remains put together by Michael Petroni. Fox 2000 hopes to remain in production this summer season. Composed by Australian author Markus Zusak, the 550-page, World war ii-era novel is read by Dying and notifies the story of Liesel Meminger as soon as she's taken at 9 to reside in getting a promote family in the German working-class neighborhood. Liesel arrives getting just stolen her first book, "The Gravediggers Guide" -- marking the beginning of an affection affair with books. Percival is repped with the Gotham Group. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com