Kevin Costner developing adventure franchise 'The Explorer Guild'

Kevin Costner has closed a deal with Atria Books for the adventure novel series The Explorer Guild.

According to Deadline, he is developing the book with writer and art director Jon Baird, with illustrations by artist Rick Ross.



Costner has expressed hopes of adapting the novel into a cartoon series and eventually a live-action film.

He explained: "[The series] represents the highest level of storytelling that lends itself to numerous platforms and if the words are protected, this can find a place as a premium content series, animated and live, and a feature.

"It feels like one of those billion-dollar babies that sometimes blow up with a high degree of literacy and commercial appeal. We are looking for the right kind of partner who recognises this."

The 57-year-old actor recently made a comeback in the History Channel series Hatfields & McCoys, and will next be seen on the big screen opposite Chris Pine in Jack Ryan.

The first book in the series, The Explorers Guild, Volume One: A Passage to Shambhala, will be published in 2014.