Captain Marvel Directors Tackle New Project: Adapting Taylor Jenkins Reid’s ‘Atmosphere’ for Laika

Laika has enlisted Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the directorial team behind “Captain Marvel,” to helm a live-action adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s upcoming novel “Atmosphere.” Reid is known for her work on “Daisy Jones & The Six.”

Published by Ballantine Books, “Atmosphere” explores a romantic narrative between two trailblazing women astronauts during the nascent stages of NASA’s shuttle program. The characters, while fictional, are set against a backdrop inspired by the authenticity and adventurous spirit of movies such as “Apollo 13,” “The Right Stuff,” and “Gravity.” Laika describes the novel as a tale that delves into the incredible extents to which we stretch ourselves in pursuit of love and life beyond our perceived limits.

The production of “Atmosphere” is a collaboration between Laika and Circle M+P. The team of producers includes Travis Knight, president and CEO of Laika, Matt Levin, Laika’s head of live action films and series, alongside Boden and Fleck, Jenkins Reid, and Brad Mendelsohn, with Jeremy Kipp Walker serving as the executive producer.

Laika, known for animated hits like “ParaNorman” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,” and the forthcoming “Wildwood,” is expanding into live-action cinema. Their upcoming projects include a screen adaptation of the action thriller “Seventeen” by John Brownlow and an innovative film titled “Crumble” by Brian Duffield, produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Additionally, Jon Spaihts, known for “Dune,” is set to write and direct an original live-action feature.

Emmy-award winners Boden and Fleck first gained recognition with “Half Nelson” featuring Ryan Gosling in 2006. Their portfolio includes “Sugar,” “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” and “Mississippi Grind.” Their recent project, “Freaky Tales,” a genre-mixing action comedy, debuted at Sundance in 2024. Their television work includes “Mrs. America,” “Masters of the Air,” and the forthcoming “Criminal” for Amazon Studios.

Reid has authored several bestsellers including “Carrie Soto Is Back,” “Malibu Rising,” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with three innovative creators on this unique film,” stated Levin. “Taylor Jenkins Reid consistently enthralls us with her richly developed, emotionally nuanced characters, and ‘Atmosphere’ is her at her best. There are no filmmakers more suited to bring Taylor’s narrative to the screen than Anna and Ryan, who have consistently delivered deeply personal stories on a grand cinematic scale.”

Reid is represented by WME, Park Fine & Brower Literary Management, Circle Management + Production, Jill Fritzo Public Relations, and the law firm Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. Boden and Fleck are represented by WME, Entertainment 360, and the law firm Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein. Circle M+P is represented by Behr, Abramson, Levy & Johnson and Laika, by CAA.