Disney Acquires Film Rights to Impossible Creatures

Disney has officially acquired the film rights to Impossible Creatures. The acclaimed fantasy book series by British author Katherine Rundell is set to become a big screen franchise.

The acquisition is described as a “substantial seven-figure” deal, positioning the series as a potential competitor to blockbuster fantasy franchises of our time.  Rundell will be central to the creative vision and development of the franchise, adapting the first two books into live-action feature film screenplays and producing alongside her creative partner Charles Collier. Additionally, Impossible Films will have a first-look deal with Disney that includes Rundell's current and upcoming literary properties.

What Impossible Creatures Is All About

Set in the richly imagined Glimouria Archipelago, Impossible Creatures started as a trilogy and has since expanded to a five-book saga through publishing deals with Bloomsbury and Knopf.

Rundell’s second installment, The Poisoned King, became an international bestseller—making her the first U.K. children’s author since J.K. Rowling to top both the U.K. and U.S. children’s book charts at the same time.

Disney plans to adapt the first two books into live-action films under its Disney Live Action banner, with Rundell writing the screenplays and co-producing alongside creative partner Charles Collier.

Why This Deal Matters

This acquisition represents a pivot from Disney’s recent reliance on remakes and legacy toward fresh, original fantasy storytelling. While recent live-action reboots produced mixed results, successes such as Lilo & Stitch underscore that original takes can still resonate

By securing first rights to adapt Rundell’s current and future properties through her production company — Impossible Films — Disney is laying the groundwork for a deeper, long-term content strategy.

Disney is betting that Impossible Creatures has the fan appeal, and narrative depth to rival dominant franchises. 

Disney CEO Bob Iger shared his excitement over acquiring the Impossible Creatures 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. 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."

What to Watch For Next

• Casting and creative team announcements.
• Release timeline — which film comes first and how Disney spaces the sequels
• How the adaptation handles tone and scale
• Merchandising, theme park integration, and cross-media extensions

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