Director Peter "King Kong" Jackson has optioned rights to the historical fantasy series "Temeraire", by author Naomi Novik.
"Temeraire" re-imagines the Napoleonic Wars with dragons and aviators, focusing on British naval 'Captain Will Laurence', who finds an unhatched 'dragon' egg intended as a gift from the emperor of China to Napoleon.
After the egg hatches, Laurence bonds with the winged reptile he names 'Temeraire' and together they join the government's newly formed 'Aerial Corps'.
"Temeraire is a terrific meld of two genres that I particularly love--fantasy and historical epic," Jackson said.
"I can't wait to see Napoleonic battles fought with a squadron of dragons. That's what I go to the movies for."
Author Novik wrote the first "Temeraire" novel, "His Majesty's Dragon" in 2004.