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Today's NY Times presents Encyclopedia Brown and the Case Of The Guy Who Wrote the Books and the Producers Looking to Get Filthy Rich from the Somewhat Disputed Movie Rights; if our obvious riff on the titles of the storied children's detective series hasn't given you enough of a summary of the fight to bring the books to the big screen, give the article a read. But what's all the fuss about? Producers Howard Deutsch and Ridley Scott realize that with just a few minor tweaks, they can smell the sweet stink of Harry Potter money all over the franchise:

Mr. Deutsch said the script he commissioned from the screenwriter Ryan Rowe significantly updated the character, and envisions the series as more an action-adventure type movie rather than a straight-ahead detective story.

In an e-mail message, Sir Ridley, better known as the director of broad-brush action epics like "Gladiator" and "Black Hawk Down," said he found the books' characters fascinating. "In the case of 'Encyclopedia Brown,' we have a classical hero and heroine who just happen to be kids," he wrote. "They are ordinary and extraordinary at the same time, and that makes these books attractive."

"Also," continued Scott,"and this is just hinted at in the books, but Encyclopedia and Sally secretly attend an enchanted English finishing school where they're quietly honing their magical powers in preparation for a series of climactic battles with Bugs Meany, The Bully Who Must Not Be Named. It's all in there in the books, you just have to read between the lines a little."