Disney Is All in on Its Subsequent Huge Franchise, ‘Not possible Creatures’

What do you do in an period the place your biggest name brands aren’t fairly chopping it? Get new title manufacturers, after all! That’s what Disney just did, buying the rights to the book series Not possible Creatures by Katherine Rundell. The corporate reportedly spent a “substantial seven figures” for the rights to the franchise and set Rundell to jot down screenplays for the primary two films in a deliberate five-film collection.

Deadline studies Disney beat out each Warner Bros. and Netflix for the rights, which the corporate sees as one thing that has not simply sequel potential but additionally possibilities for spinoffs, merchandise, and possibly even theme park rides.

“Once I learn Not possible Creatures, I knew it belonged right here at Disney,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a Disney press release. “I used to be instantly drawn into the colourful world Katherine imagined and the chances of what we may do along with this story. Written by Katherine herself, these films are in the most effective of fingers with our Walt Disney Studios group, and I can’t wait to see this story dropped at the display.”

“I’m completely thrilled to be linking arms with Disney,” Rundell stated. “It’s a privilege to be writing these screenplays and growing these first films within the franchise along with Charles [Collier, producer], my group at Not possible Movies, and with the distinctive group at Disney… Our ambition is to construct ‘Glimouria’ and Not possible Creatures right into a spectacular collection of movies, in order that we will entertain and encourage household audiences internationally.”

So, clearly, Disney could be very excessive on this, and there are a couple of causes. One is that the corporate has been making “an effort to maneuver the live-action menu past transfers of animated movies,” in keeping with Deadline. These movies make some huge cash (Lilo & Sew is the one film this 12 months to cross $1 billion to date, for instance), however they will solely final for thus lengthy. There should be new tales to inform, and Not possible Creatures is perhaps it.

The opposite is that whereas Disney has clearly been capable of lean closely into the grosses from mega franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar films for the previous decade, the previous couple of years haven’t seen these franchises reap the fixed outcomes the studio needs or wants. There are a couple of exceptions, corresponding to Inside Out 2, however these properties are now not a assure. New possibilities should be taken, and that’s what’s occurring right here.

So what’s Not possible Creatures all about? You possibly can in all probability guess. It’s about children who work collectively to save lots of creatures in a magical world. The primary guide, Not possible Creatures, was revealed in 2023, and its sequel, The Poisoned King, got here out final month. Thus far, they’ve bought round one million copies and received Rundell a number of awards. She’s planning three extra books in the principle storyline, with spinoffs and extra additionally on the desk.

Deadline calls the franchise “a publishing phenomenon on the order of Harry Potter, The Starvation Video games, and Twilight Saga.” Which we’re going to should go forward and disagree with. Absolutely it’s profitable and Disney might need a winner on its fingers, however we’re positive a few of us (this author included) simply heard about this for the primary time immediately. So, we’re skeptical that we’re going to get 5 movies, theme park rides, and extra from this, but when anybody could make it occur, it’s Disney.

Had you heard of Not possible Creatures earlier than immediately? Do you prefer it? Did Disney make the proper transfer right here? Tell us under.

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