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In a seven-figure deal, Walt Disney Studios has won a competitive auction for the screen rights to Impossible Creatures. Impossible Creatures is a fantasy series written by British author Katherine Rundell. Rundell is set to adapt the first two books of the series for the screen.
Sources say the final contenders for the Impossible Creatures rights were Disney, Warner Bros., and Netflix, with executives from all three traveling to London this summer to pitch their visions. For Disney, the deal was spearheaded by David Greenbaum, President of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, alongside Daria Cercek, President of Disney Live Action; Allison Erlikhman, SVP of Production; and Clare Reeth, Head of Literary Affairs. Reeth, who championed the series early on with Literary Affairs Director Emily Dayton, helped drive the project to the top of Disney’s priority list. Watching closely from Burbank were Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
The result? A sweeping deal that gives Disney rights not only to the five-book Impossible Creatures saga but also to Katherine Rundell and her creative partner Charles Collier. Their production company, Impossible Films, is based in London and includes key figures like Paddington 2 and Wonka producer Alexandra Derbyshire and former Pixar CFO and Fox Studio Operations President Simon Bax. Rundell will also enter a first-look agreement with Disney covering her current and future literary projects.
Impossible Creatures has become a publishing sensation. It has been compared to the book series such as Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and The Twilight Saga. The first book debuted in 2023, followed by The Poisoned King, which was recently released. Rundell has made history as the first U.K. children’s author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously top the children’s book charts in both the U.K. and the U.S.
To date, the series has sold over four million copies worldwide. Originally envisioned as a trilogy, the series has expanded into a five-book saga, with additional spin-offs and prequels planned to further build out the franchise.
Here is a statement from Bob Iger, Walt Disney Company Ceo, about the project:
“When I read Impossible Creatures, I knew it belonged here at Disney. I was immediately drawn into the vibrant world Katherine imagined and the possibilities of what we could do together with this story. Written by Katherine herself, these movies are in the best of hands with our Walt Disney Studios team, and I can’t wait to see this tale brought to the screen.”
Here is a statement from Disney's Bergman and Greenbaum, about the project:
“Katherine Rundell has masterfully crafted a spectacular and immersive world with Impossible Creatures and her vision is a perfect match for the Disney storytelling tradition.” We are thrilled to collaborate with Katherine and Charles to bring this epic saga to life for audiences worldwide—it’s going to be an extraordinary adventure.”
Here is a statement from author Katherine Rundell, about the announcement:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be linking arms with Disney. It’s a privilege to be writing these screenplays and developing these first movies in the franchise together with Charles, my team at Impossible Films, and with the exceptional team at Disney. I’m especially grateful to Bob Iger, whose enthusiasm after reading the book helped set this collaboration in motion, and to Alan Bergman and David Greenbaum for being incredible partners throughout this process. Our ambition is to build Glimouria and Impossible Creatures into a spectacular series of films, so that we can entertain and inspire family audiences across the world.”
Here is the goodreads synopsis of "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell:
The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It's the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it's the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.
Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what's happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.
Sources say the final contenders for the Impossible Creatures rights were Disney, Warner Bros., and Netflix, with executives from all three traveling to London this summer to pitch their visions. For Disney, the deal was spearheaded by David Greenbaum, President of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, alongside Daria Cercek, President of Disney Live Action; Allison Erlikhman, SVP of Production; and Clare Reeth, Head of Literary Affairs. Reeth, who championed the series early on with Literary Affairs Director Emily Dayton, helped drive the project to the top of Disney’s priority list. Watching closely from Burbank were Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
The result? A sweeping deal that gives Disney rights not only to the five-book Impossible Creatures saga but also to Katherine Rundell and her creative partner Charles Collier. Their production company, Impossible Films, is based in London and includes key figures like Paddington 2 and Wonka producer Alexandra Derbyshire and former Pixar CFO and Fox Studio Operations President Simon Bax. Rundell will also enter a first-look agreement with Disney covering her current and future literary projects.
Impossible Creatures has become a publishing sensation. It has been compared to the book series such as Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and The Twilight Saga. The first book debuted in 2023, followed by The Poisoned King, which was recently released. Rundell has made history as the first U.K. children’s author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously top the children’s book charts in both the U.K. and the U.S.
To date, the series has sold over four million copies worldwide. Originally envisioned as a trilogy, the series has expanded into a five-book saga, with additional spin-offs and prequels planned to further build out the franchise.
Here is a statement from Bob Iger, Walt Disney Company Ceo, about the project:
“When I read Impossible Creatures, I knew it belonged here at Disney. I was immediately drawn into the vibrant world Katherine imagined and the possibilities of what we could do together with this story. Written by Katherine herself, these movies are in the best of hands with our Walt Disney Studios team, and I can’t wait to see this tale brought to the screen.”
Here is a statement from Disney's Bergman and Greenbaum, about the project:
“Katherine Rundell has masterfully crafted a spectacular and immersive world with Impossible Creatures and her vision is a perfect match for the Disney storytelling tradition.” We are thrilled to collaborate with Katherine and Charles to bring this epic saga to life for audiences worldwide—it’s going to be an extraordinary adventure.”
Here is a statement from author Katherine Rundell, about the announcement:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be linking arms with Disney. It’s a privilege to be writing these screenplays and developing these first movies in the franchise together with Charles, my team at Impossible Films, and with the exceptional team at Disney. I’m especially grateful to Bob Iger, whose enthusiasm after reading the book helped set this collaboration in motion, and to Alan Bergman and David Greenbaum for being incredible partners throughout this process. Our ambition is to build Glimouria and Impossible Creatures into a spectacular series of films, so that we can entertain and inspire family audiences across the world.”
Here is the goodreads synopsis of "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell:
The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It's the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it's the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.
Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what's happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.
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