‘The Lunar Chronicles’ Author Shares New Adaptation Update: Everything We Know So Far
If you’re counting down the days until The Lunar Chronicles makes its way to the screen, we’re right there with you. When Swooon spoke to author Marissa Meyer about her latest book, The House Saphir, we also had to ask about the adaptation status of her futuristic fairy tale retelling.
“It’s so exciting,” Meyer said, explaining that most details about the upcoming animated movie remain under lock and key. “They’ve got a lot of really, really great writers and a really fantastic director, and I know that we’re going to be looking into casting in the very near future. I cannot wait to hear how that goes.”
The author, who comes from an anime background, is especially excited about the new form that The Lunar Chronicles will take. “And I know one of the producers on the project comes from the Spider-Verse movies, which, to me, are like top of the top when it comes to animated films,” she explained, referring to Christina Steinberg. “So I feel like I’m in really good hands.”
When it comes to how involved she is in the book-to-screen process, Meyer said, “I would say I’m very much on the outskirts, but they also are kind of always seeking out my opinions for things. So, I’ll be really curious as we get into the next phases to see that. I honestly don’t know, I guess, is going to be the answer. We’re waiting to find out.”
Keep reading for all of the latest The Lunar Chronicles updates, including the film’s release date, plot details, and more.
When is The Lunar Chronicles movie coming out?
It’ll be a while before Cinder’s story arrives in theaters. Earlier this year, the movie got a November 3, 2028, release date. It was first revealed that Meyer’s series — which includes Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter — was optioned by Locksmith Animation in 2022, a decade after Cinder was published.
Who’s been cast in The Lunar Chronicles?
Per Meyer’s comments to Swooon, it seems like casting announcements are imminent. While we don’t know who’ll be lending their voices to the project yet, we do know who’s working behind-the-scenes. The Lunar Chronicles is being helmed by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Locksmith, with a script from Lindsey Ferrentino, Kalen Egan, and Travis Sentell. Noëlle Raffaele, who worked in the art department of The Lego Ninjago Movie and The Marvels, will direct it.
“It takes a team of true visionaries to bring a world as rich and daring as The Lunar Chronicles to life,” Warner Bros. Pictures Animation president Bill Damaschke and Locksmith Animation CEO Natalie Fischer said in a statement. “This is the kind of story that feels like it was waiting for just the right moment — and the right people — to be told. It’s thrilling, emotional, and completely unlike anything we’ve seen before.”
What is The Lunar Chronicles about?
The first book in the young adult series reimagines the story of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White, putting them in a dystopian world with androids, cyborgs, a deadly plague, and an evil Queen who leads a ruthless nation on the moon.
At the center of it all is teenage cyborg and mechanic Cinder, who’s hated by her stepmother and has a mysterious past. As she becomes entangled with Prince Kai, Cinder is drawn into a battle for the Earth’s survival. As the series continues, she teams up with spaceship pilot Scarlet, imprisoned hacker Cress, and Lunar princess Winter to protect the world.
The Lunar Chronicles, November 3, 2028, In Theaters
