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BURBANK - Walt Disney Studios has acquired the film rights to British author Katherine Rundell’s fantasy series "Impossible Creatures," according to a press release issued by Bloomsbury Publishing.
The deal includes theatrical film and ancillary rights to the bestselling book series, with Rundell set to adapt the first two books into feature film screenplays under the Disney Live Action banner. Rundell will also produce alongside her creative partner Charles Collier through her production company, Impossible Films.
Disney has also established a first-look development relationship with Impossible Films that includes all of Rundell’s current and upcoming literary properties. The production company will remain based in London.
"Impossible Creatures," set in the fictional world of the Glimouria Archipelago, was initially planned as a trilogy but has been expanded to a five-book series. The first two installments have sold over one million copies across 37 territories, according to the statement.
Rundell’s second book in the series, "The Poisoned King," debuted as a global bestseller, making her the first UK children’s author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously reach the top position on children’s book charts in both the UK and US.
"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," Rundell said in the statement.
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, noted that he was "immediately drawn into the vibrant world Katherine imagined" after reading the book.
Bloomsbury Publishing holds the print, ebook and audio rights exclusively in the UK, Europe and Commonwealth for Rundell’s works. The author has published with Bloomsbury since 2015 and was awarded both ’Author of The Year’ and ’Children’s Book of The Year’ at The British Book Awards in 2024.
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