Fox Walden sent us a high-res version of the official theatrical poster for their upcoming fantasy film, City of Ember.

Check out the poster here at right; click for larger view.

An unofficial non-approved version of the poster appeared online earlier today, but this one here came directly from the studio and is the final image.

The script, based on based on the book by Jeanne Duprau, is by Caroline Thompson, who wrote Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. That right there should be enough to grab your attention. Add to that Atonement‘s breakout child star Saoirse Ronan in the lead role, as well as screen vets Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, and Martin Landau and this is definitely a classic movie in the making.

The Gil Kenan-directed film, which also stars Toby Jones and Harry Treadaway, hits theaters October 10, 2008.

City of Ember is definitely one of my most anticipated films for this Fall. I feel like it’s not really getting enough publicity and there’s definitely not enough hype surrounding it. If done right, this could be the next great young adult movie. I hesitate to label it as a “kids’ movie,” even though Duprau’s book is considered a children’s tale, its story is anything but lighthearted and the film looks to be more serious in tone. I’m guessing it will have the two teenage leads in a The Goonies-like adventure (complete with stalactites) with the code-cracking of The Da Vinci Code.

Synopsis

For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights – underground. But Ember’s once powerful generator is failing … and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city’s existence, and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever.