It’s been a while since we’ve heard much about progress on the animated adaptation of popular graphic series Bone. But now there appears to be fresh movement on the project, with Muriel’s Wedding director PJ Hogan signing on to direct and TV writer Patrick Sean Smith locked in to crank out the next draft of the script.

Published by Jeff Smith between 1991 and 2004, Bone is an odd and absorbing tale that tracks Fone Bone, Smiley Bone and Phoney Bone, who are kicked out of Boneville after Phoney screws up a run for mayor. Chased across medieval fantasy land The Valley by locusts and rats, they eventually find shelter with a girl named Thorn. And they’re then sucked into a battle against an evil Dark Lord. What begins as a fairly slapsticky tale soon evolves into something more serious, which is part of the reason why lots of people love it.

Sherlock Holmes producer Dan Lin has been overseeing the project since he convinced Warner Bros. to snap up the rights a few years ago. Australian writer Justin Monjo wrote the first few drafts of the script and Happy Feet 'toon company Animal Logic put together some test footage so everyone involved can get a sense of what it will look like.

Now, however, it appears it’ll sit in development a little longer as Smith – Patrick Sean, not Jeff – retools the screenplay. He’s been responsible for TV comedy drama Greek and has written on shows including Supernatural and Everwood. According to the Heat Vision blog, Hogan will re-write it again before he starts directing in Australia with the Animal Logic team handling the animation. Until then, he’s still busy putting the final touches to Mental, the film that sees him reunite with Muriel star Toni Collette.