The Walt Disney Studios announced a major deal to acquire rights to British author Katherine Rundell’s award-winning fantasy series, Impossible Creatures. Set in the magical Glimouria Archipelago, the story will soon become a new Disney Live Action film franchise.
A Groundbreaking Deal
Disney gained theatrical and ancillary rights to the Impossible Creatures saga, with Rundell adapting her novels for film. Through her London-based company, Impossible Films, she will write and produce with creative partner Charles Collier. Disney’s Live Action division will lead production.
The first two books will become feature films, launching a fantasy universe Disney hopes to grow for years. In addition, Impossible Films signed a first-look development deal with Disney, covering all current and upcoming Rundell projects.
The Story of ‘Impossible Creatures’
Debuting in 2023, the series transports readers to the Glimouria Archipelago, a land where mythical creatures thrive and magic fuels an epic struggle between destiny and imagination. The newest book, The Poisoned King, became an international hit. Rundell became the first U.K. children’s author since J.K. Rowling to top charts in both the U.K. and U.S.
Rundell first planned Impossible Creatures as a trilogy but later expanded it into a five-book saga after major publishing deals with Bloomsbury and Knopf. The first two novels sold more than one million copies across 34 territories, proving her global impact as a storyteller.
Katherine Rundell and Disney Join Forces
“I’m thrilled to be linking arms with Disney,” said Rundell. “It’s a privilege to write these screenplays and develop the first movies in this franchise with Charles, my team at Impossible Films, and the incredible team at Disney. Our goal is to build ‘Glimouria’ and Impossible Creatures into a spectacular film series that entertains and inspires families worldwide.”
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, shared his excitement: “When I read Impossible Creatures, I knew it belonged at Disney. I was immediately drawn into the world Katherine created and inspired by what we could bring to the screen together.”
Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman and David Greenbaum, President of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, added, “Katherine Rundell crafted an extraordinary world, and her imagination perfectly fits Disney’s storytelling tradition. Together, we’ll bring this saga to life in a way audiences will never forget.”
The Future of Glimouria
With its rich fantasy and heartfelt adventure, Impossible Creatures joins Disney’s legacy of beloved family sagas such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The collaboration opens a new chapter in Disney’s live-action storytelling and continues its tradition of inspiring imagination.
