Brad Bird will rewrite and direct the earthquake-based '1906'

Brad Bird is leaving the comfort of animation to make his live action feature directing debut on the period mystery "1906."

The project is set up as a co-production between Warner Bros. (which dropped the ball on the director's "Iron Giant") and Disney/Pixar (which did far better with Bird's "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille").

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the plot focuses on a San Francisco-based college student investigating the death of his father. In the process, he uncovers a conspiracy that involves the sort of urban malfeasance that left San Francisco particular vulnerable to the sorts of fires that followed the 1906 earthquake.

John Logan wrote the original script, which Bird will rewrite.

Both "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles" earned Oscars in the animated feature category, while Bird was nominated for original screenplay for both films. His previous credits included stints writing and producing on both "The Simpsons" and "The Critic."