Warner Bros. Animation Develops Lunar Chronicles Film
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation is adapting Melissa Meyer's fantasy series, with Noëlle Raffaele directing and Industrial Light & Magic creating the animation.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Animation
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation is developing an animated adaptation of Melissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles, with executives reportedly planning it as the first installment of a franchise. The project was first announced three years ago and is directed by Noëlle Raffaele.
Why it matters
The adaptation brings a series first published in 2012 to the big screen under a major studio's animation division, extending its reach beyond readers of the books. Its planned franchise structure signals the studio's interest in building a recurring property rather than a single release.
Toy Story 5 reached a box office gross of $1.15 billion in 2026, third-highest of the year, while The Super Mario Galaxy Movie grossed $1.01 billion and Minions & Monsters grossed $529 million. No production budget or gross projection for The Lunar Chronicles has been disclosed.
The players
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
The animation division of Warner Bros. Pictures, which has released animated films including The Looney Tunes, The Iron Giant and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.
Noëlle Raffaele
The director attached to the Lunar Chronicles adaptation.
Industrial Light & Magic
The visual effects company founded by George Lucas that is creating the film's animation.
Melissa Meyer
The author of The Lunar Chronicles fantasy and science fiction book series.
The details
Noëlle Raffaele is directing the adaptation, and Industrial Light & Magic is creating the animation. The Lunar Chronicles, a fantasy and science fiction series by Melissa Meyer, began with the book Cinder in 2012.
Timeline
2012: The first Lunar Chronicles book, Cinder, was published.
Three years before this report: The adaptation project was first announced.
November 3, 2028: The Lunar Chronicles is scheduled for theatrical release.
Industry Dynamics
Warner Bros. has built an animated slate that includes The Iron Giant and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, and The Lunar Chronicles extends that catalogue into adapted young-adult fantasy. Planning the film as a franchise opener follows the studio pattern of developing recurring properties rather than standalone releases.
The Lunar Chronicles is scheduled for theatrical release on November 3, 2028, so audiences would access it in cinemas rather than through a streaming platform. Ticket availability and pricing will be determined closer to that date.
The takeaway
Adapting a book series into an animated franchise opener shows how studios are using animation to build long-running properties from existing fan bases. Readers following the project can watch for the November 3, 2028 release date and any further casting or production announcements.
Further reading
Explore more on the Animation section for context on studio-developed animated features.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ScreenRant.
