Director Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman: The Secret Service) has made his latest literary acquisition under his Marv Films banner, in the form of Ghostgirl. The character was first launched online in 2002, with a Young Adult series beginning publication in 2008 – quickly featuring on the New York Times bestseller list. The books, which use themes including love, death, obsession and popularity, have also been released as audiobooks, read by Parker Posey.
The protagonist of the story, Ghostgirl, is Charlotte Usher – a lonely High School senior who is fixated on her desire for popularity. Charlotte has a crush on Damen, who is dating the popular Petula, but just as Charlotte is planning to make her move, she chokes on a gummy bear and dies. Now dead and finding herself to be a ghost, she becomes part of the Dead Ed class, with many other teenagers who have met their end in a variety of ways – some disturbing, and some darkly funny.
Matthew Vaughn has historically made a good job of adapting works from traditional literature and comic books. He directed Stardust, from Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name, Kick-Ass, Kingsman: The Secret Service and, of course, X-Men: First Class. It seems that Vaughn has a particular eye for stories previously confined to the published page, but with the potential to manifest on the big screen – something that speaks volumes about the quality of the source material in this instance.
Ghostgirl on film would present some interesting casting opportunities. In addition to the lead role of Charlotte – a fantastic part for a young actress – there is the whole Dead Ed class to fill. By the time this project eventually reaches the stage of assigning roles to performers, this could prove to be an incredible ensemble piece, showcasing great satirical talent.
