Disney is exploring 'Impossible Creatures,' a popular children's book series by Katherine Rundell, as a new franchise to expand its lineup of successful film properties.

Disney has acquired the film rights to the series, which currently includes two published books out of a planned five, with the rights secured in a competitive seven-figure deal against Netflix and Warner Bros.

Katherine Rundell is excited to collaborate with Disney, aiming to develop the series into inspiring and entertaining family films.

While previous Disney YA adaptations like 'Artemis Fowl' faced challenges, 'Impossible Creatures' shows promising early success and acclaim, with Rundell herself set to write the screenplays.

The story follows a boy named Christopher who discovers magical creatures on the islands of Glimouria and seeks to uncover why they are dying, positioning it as a potential Harry Potter-level franchise.

Disney's acquisition was highly competitive, beating out Warner Bros. and Netflix, with the company comparing the series' potential to that of Harry Potter, citing Rundell's recent success in children's book charts.

Disney CEO Bob Iger expressed strong enthusiasm for the series, believing it fits well within Disney's storytelling universe and has the potential to become a spectacular film franchise.

This franchise could help Disney return to its roots in fantasy filmmaking and fill a gap in its portfolio by creating a major YA fantasy film series similar to Harry Potter or The Hunger Games.

Disney has only secured rights to the first two books, with Rundell involved in writing the screenplays, and the studio paid a substantial sum for the adaptation rights.

The 'Impossible Creatures' series has sold over 4 million copies worldwide and made Rundell the first UK children's author to top charts in both the UK and US since J.K. Rowling.

Disney's deal for the film rights was a substantial seven-figure sum, reflecting strong industry interest, and the company only has rights to the first two books at this stage.

The move aligns with Disney's strategy to attract more young male and Gen-Z viewers, especially as recent Marvel and Star Wars projects have received mixed reviews.