Emma Thompson, shown Aug. 13 in Philadelphia, will write a new Peter Rabbit story. (Matt Rourke/Associated Press) Peter Rabbit, the mischievous bunny created by beloved children's writer Beatrix Potter, will live again in a new children's story to be penned by actor Emma Thompson.
Thompson told U.S. TV host Craig Ferguson that she had been offered an opportunity to write the book by Potter's publisher.
The new book will come out in 2012 to mark the 110th anniversary of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was first published in 1902.
"I had a lovely little job offer. You know, Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter, he is 110 next year and they asked me to write a new story about Peter Rabbit, so I'm going to take him to Scotland," Thompson said.
British publisher Frederick Warne confirmed it had approached Thompson about the project.
The British actor, who won an Oscar for her writing in adapting Sense and Sensibility to the screen, listed Potter's The Tale of Mr. Tod among her favourite books in a feature in Oprah magazine, saying the book helped start her childhood reading.
Peter Rabbit was the first of Potter's animal characters and several of her books featured the Rabbit family. Potter was known for her small-format books, designed for little hands, and for the quality of her illustrations.
The author's life was made into the Hollywood film Miss Potter in 2006 with Renee Zellweger playing the title role.
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