Author Katherine Rundell’s book series Impossible Creatures has had its rights acquired by Disney. This expansive deal includes a first-look relationship with her production company, Impossible Films. The deal will also have Rundell writing and developing feature film screenplays for the first two books in her blockbuster fantasy series.
“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,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “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.”
The series debuted in 2023 and is set in the fictional world of the Glimouria Archipelago. It quickly became a publishing phenomenon. The most recent installment, The Poisoned King, debuted as an immediate global bestseller. This made Rundell the first U.K. children’s author to reach the number 1 position in the children’s book charts in both the U.K. and the U.S. since J.K. Rowling. So far, Rundell’s full body of work has sold over four million copies globally. In 2024, she was awarded both ‘Author of the Year’ and ‘Children’s Book of the Year’ at the British Book Awards.
The Impossible Creatures series was originally envisioned as a trilogy, but then expanded to a five-book series earlier this year. Rundell is in discussions to expand the franchise even further as they continue to see success.
The deal between Disney and Rundal and her production company Impossible Films sees Disney securing theatrical film and ancillary rights to the Impossible Creatures series. Rundell will continue to be central to the creative vision and the development of the franchise. She will be adapting the first two books into feature film screenplays under the Disney Live Action banner and produce alongside her creative partner Charles Collier. Impossible Films will also begin a first-look development relationship with Disney that will include all of Rundell’s current and upcoming literary properties. Impossible Films will remain based in London and be led by Rundell with a team that includes Collier, producer Alexandra Derbyshire, and Simon Bax, former CFO of Pixar Animation Studios and President of Studio Operations at Fox.
“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,” said Katherine Rundell. “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.”
“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,” said Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and David Greenbaum, President, Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios. “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.”
The book series will join Disney’s legacy of groundbreaking storytelling and collaboration with visionary artists and filmmakers. The universe of Impossible Creatures is richly imagined and full of unique characters with endless possibilities. Disney hopes that the world of “Glimouria” and this book series will be a franchise that will delight fans for years to come.
