Barry Sonnenfeld to direct 'Swift'

Barry Sonnenfeld will revive Edward Stratemeyer's literary creation Tom Swift for the big screen.

The Men In Black helmer and Ben David Grabinski have sold a pitch to Columbia Pictures that features Swift as part of a father and son team of inventors.

Stratemeyer originated the character in 1910, while the story has been published by various authors since under the pseudonym Victor Appleton. Over 20 million Tom Swift books have been sold worldwide.

Should the Sonnenfeld-directed project move forward, it will be the first movie outing for Swift. A 20th Century Fox musical that had Gene Kelly on board to direct was axed at the last minute, as was a planned feature film in the mid-'70s.