Amazon MGM Studios is developing a live-action feature based on Scarlet Morning, the 2025 fantasy novel by ND Stevenson, known for creating Nimona. Kate Herron is attached to direct and produce through her A Bag of Rats banner, and will write the screenplay with Kari Granlund.
The story follows two orphans who, after waiting years for their parents to return, join a pirate crew on a journey to help save a place called Dickerson’s Sea. HarperCollins’ Quill Tree Books published the illustrated middle-grade novel.
Roy Lee will produce for Vertigo Entertainment, alongside Darlene Caamaño Loquet for Oh My Darlin’ Entertainment and Aubrey Davis for A Bag of Rats. Granlund and Vertigo Entertainment’s Jakob Pollack are executive producers.
Stevenson’s graphic novel Nimona was shortlisted for the National Book Award and later adapted into a Netflix film that received an Oscar nomination for best animated feature. He also created and served as showrunner on DreamWorks Animation Television’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and created the comic series Lumberjanes.
Herron directed the first season of Disney+’s Loki and has worked on HBO’s The Last of Us and Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles. Scarlet Morning is the first project for A Bag of Rats. Granlund’s previous credits include Lady and the Tramp and Godmothered.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter.