Julia Roberts Set To Star, Produce In Hollywood Version Of 'Batkid Begins'

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The Batkid story that swept San Francisco has tugged on the heartstrings of Julia Roberts.

The Oscar-winning actress just announced she plans to produce an adaption of "Batkid Begins," the documentary about a 5-year-old leukemia patient who rescued Gotham City from the forces of evil.

Miles Scott enthralled millions in 2013 when the Make-A-Wish Foundation transformed San Francisco for his daylong escapade as the caped crusader.  Thousands of volunteers transformed the city into Gotham, where Scott went from one locale to another to participate in staged events involving The Riddler and The Penguin, later getting the keys to the city from Mayor Ed Lee and a video tweet from President Obama.

Roberts says she will star and produce the remake of the film, Deadline reports, with her Red Om Films partners Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill. Batman Begins director Dana Nachman will executive produce.

"It's thrilling to me that Ms. Roberts and her team watched our film and were so moved by it that they want to dedicate their time and creative capital to make sure the widest audience possible will know and love Miles' story and the spirit of this intimate special event that went global, as much as we do," Nachman told Deadline.

The crowdfunded "Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World" premieres Saturday at Slamdance in Park City.

Here's what KPIX 5 coverage, complete with comic book treatment, looked like on the day BatKid saved Gotham: