Screen Line Productions is heading into dystopian teen territory with its next scripted project.

The Banijay France-owned TV label has optioned the rights to develop a live-action TV series based on The Declaration, a popular 2007 sci-fi novel for teens and young adults by British author Gemma Malley. 

The Declaration tells the story of 16-year-old Anna, who was born into an overpopulated future where longevity drugs have been invented and it’s illegal to have children. Sent to live in a Surplus Hall—where unwanted kids go to train as servants—her life changes dramatically after the arrival of a new resident named Peter.      

Filmmakers Morgan S. Dalibert (AKA) and Mathieu Lalande (New World) are adapting the novel, which is the first in a trilogy. Malley released a sequel to The Declaration called The Resistance in 2009, followed by The Legacy a year later. These books were her first to target a teen audience.

Launched in 2022, Screen Line Productions is led by Frédéric Lussato and aims to produce more premium content for young adults. It’s currently shooting Trash, a miniseries for Amazon Prime that’s inspired by the real life-events of Loft Story, the French adaptation of US reality show Big Brother.