Photo: Kyle Grillot
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel, Half Nelson) will write and direct Atmosphere, adapting Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel for the big screen. Black Bear, who has acquired worldwide rights for, will also co-finance with production label LAIKA, and will distribute in the US and its territories,
Based on Reid’s #1 New York Times bestseller and Good Morning America Book Club selection, Atmosphere is the latest global phenomenon from Jenkins Reid, whose novels have sold more than 24 million copies worldwide and inspired multiple acclaimed film and television adaptations. The new film is being described as a sweeping cinematic event set against the high-stakes world of NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s.
In Atmosphere, we follow Joan, a brilliant young astronaut, and a trail-blazing new generation of astronauts as they prepare for missions where every launch could be their last. As the missions unfold, Joan and fellow astronaut Vanessa forge a bond that will forever shape their lives. But when catastrophe leaves them fighting for survival, they are propelled into an impossible race against time that will test the limits of courage, sacrifice, and love.
The agreement, per the announcement on Thursday, follows a highly competitive process that drew significant interest from distributors, underscoring industry confidence in the project. The deal reflects LAIKA’s continued expansion into premium live-action filmmaking alongside its award-winning animation business. For Black Bear, Atmosphere is the latest addition to an ambitious domestic theatrical slate. The growing slate curates up to 12 releases annually, spanning visionary filmmaker-driven projects alongside commercial action, thrillers, and genre films.
Photo: Michael Buckner
LAIKA is also producing the film in association with Circle M+P. LAIKA’s Travis Knight, Matt Levin and Jeremy Kipp Walker are producinh next to Boden & Fleck, Jenkins Reid, and Brad Mendelsohn of Circle M+P. LAIKA’s Maryse Knight and Zac Locke are executive producers.
“Atmosphere is exactly the kind of bold, ambitious event film Black Bear is passionate about bringing to audiences – an emotionally resonant theatrical experience from visionary filmmakers, anchored by unforgettable characters and breathtaking scale,” said Katie Anderson, Black Bear’s EVP of Acquisitions. “Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of the defining storytellers of her generation, and Atmosphere is her most cinematic work yet. Boden & Fleck are among the rare filmmakers capable of delivering blockbuster spectacle without sacrificing emotional intimacy, making them the perfect creative partners to bring this extraordinary story to life. We’re thrilled to partner with them, Circle, and the LAIKA team to deliver an unforgettable theatrical experience for audiences worldwide.
“From day one, our collaboration with Taylor, Brad, Ryan, and Anna has been anchored in a shared ambition to make a version of Atmosphere that truly demands to be experienced as a major cinematic event,” said Levin, LAIKA’s President of Live Action Films and Series. “We couldn’t ask for a better partner than the world-class team at Black Bear, who share our passion for this story and have the vision, energy and global reach to ensure it reaches audiences around the world on the grandest possible stage.”
LAIKA is also the studio behind Knight’s new animated adventure, Wildwood, releasing theatrically on October 23.
Boden & Fleck are represented by WME and Entertainment 360. Jenkins Reid, whose growing literary works also include NYT bestsellers Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted, is represented by Circle Management + Production, Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management,WME, Jill Fritzo PR and Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson + Christopher, LLP.