In a move that’s already sending ripples through the literary and entertainment worlds, Disney has secured a seven-figure deal to adapt Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures series into a major film franchise. With Rundell herself penning the screenplays, this isn’t just another fantasy adaptation.. it’s a strategic, emotional, and cultural pivot that could redefine the genre’s future.
From Rowling to Rundell: A New Kind of Magic
Let’s get one thing straight: Harry Potter is irreplaceable. J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world didn’t just dominate publishing… it reshaped childhoods, fandoms, and the very architecture of modern fantasy storytelling. But as the cultural dust settles and the Potterverse ages into legacy status, the question isn’t who can replace it. It’s who can fill the void it left behind.
Enter Katherine Rundell.
Her Impossible Creatures series, beginning with the 2023 release of the same name and followed by The Poison King in 2024, has already been hailed as a literary triumph. Rundell’s prose is lyrical, her world-building lush, and her emotional tone deeply resonant. Unlike many post-Potter contenders, she doesn’t chase spectacle… she crafts intimacy, wonder, and moral complexity. It’s fantasy with a heartbeat.
And now, with Disney backing the cinematic adaptation, Rundell’s creatures might just find their way into the hearts of a global audience hungry for new magic.
Disney’s Strategic Pivot: Prestige Meets IP
Disney’s acquisition of Impossible Creatures isn’t just a creative win, it’s a calculated move in a shifting entertainment landscape. For years, studios have leaned heavily on reboots, sequels, and existing franchises. But the hunger for original IP with built-in literary acclaim is growing, especially as audiences crave depth over nostalgia.
By investing in Rundell’s series, Disney isn’t just buying a story, they’re buying trust. Rundell’s reputation as a children’s author, essayist, and Oxford scholar lends the project a literary gravitas that few fantasy adaptations can claim. And with five books planned, the franchise potential is enormous.
This is Disney betting on story-first fantasy. Not just dragons and spells, but emotional arcs, ethical dilemmas, and imaginative ecosystems that feel lived-in. It’s a pivot from spectacle to soul and it might be exactly what the genre needs.
The Author-as-Screenwriter: A Rare Continuity of Voice
Perhaps the most exciting element of this deal is Rundell’s role as screenwriter. In an industry where authors are often sidelined during adaptation, Disney’s decision to keep Rundell at the helm signals a commitment to preserving the emotional and thematic integrity of the books.
This continuity of voice is rare. It means the cinematic version won’t just echo the books it will breathe with the same rhythm, the same moral compass, the same lyrical tone. For fans, that’s a promise of authenticity. For the genre, it’s a model of respectful adaptation.
It also suggests a shift in how studios view authors not just as originators, but as creative partners. Rundell’s involvement could set a precedent for future adaptations, especially in fantasy, where tone and texture are everything.
Filling the Fantasy Void.. But Not Replacing Potter
Let’s be clear: Impossible Creatures isn’t trying to be Harry Potter. And that’s its strength.
Where Rowling built a boarding school of spells, Rundell builds an archipelago of impossible beings. Where Potter leaned into chosen-one tropes, Rundell explores ecological wonder, emotional nuance, and the ethics of imagination. It’s a different kind of fantasy- less about prophecy, more about possibility.
But in a post-Potter world, that difference is exactly what makes it powerful. The genre doesn’t need another Hogwarts… it needs new worlds, new rules, new emotional truths. Rundell offers that. And Disney, with its global reach and storytelling muscle, might just deliver it.
What This Means for Fandom and Cultural Legacy
Fandoms thrive on emotional resonance, shared language, and mythic structure. Impossible Creatures has the bones for all three. If Disney plays its cards right; casting, pacing, visual tone.. it could birth a new generation of fantasy lovers who aren’t looking to relive the past, but to build something new.
This isn’t about replacing a legacy. It’s about expanding it.
Rundell’s creatures won’t erase Potter’s wand.. but they might offer a new kind of magic. One that’s gentler, wilder, and deeply attuned to the emotional landscapes of today’s readers.
And if you grew up whispering “Lumos” into the dark, you might just find yourself watching the skies again waiting for a new kind of light. Not a replacement. A rival. Let the fantasy games begin. 😉
