A New York Times article full of mystery and intrigue sounds like it could have come straight out of J.J. Abrams' imagination — which is perhaps why Abrams and Paramount bought the rights to the article and plan to make a movie out of it. Written by Penelope Green, the NYT piece tells of an old New York home where the owners "discovered secret panels and hidden clues that led them on a mystery-filled scavenger hunt." Variety has more details:

The Fifth Avenue home, described as a giant '20s-era co-op with Central Park views, was gutted several years ago at the behest of a couple, who later moved in with their four children. An architectural designer who oversaw the rehab job left behind a series of messages, games and treasures, unbeknownst to the family, who eventually unraveled a mystery that featured a poem, a book, a soundtrack and a host of historical figures.

In this latest example of a newspaper or magazine article catching the eye of a producer, Paramount ponied up somewhere in the mid-six figures for this true-life tale. It sounds like the story is right up Abrams' alley, though I wonder if this one will be a family-friendly adventure-type story. I think it could do quite well in that genre, don't you?

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