Laika Secures Rights to Adapt Emily St. John Mandel's Exit Party for TV
Laika's live-action division has secured the rights to adapt Emily St. John Mandel's upcoming novel Exit Party. The deal, worth a low seven-figure sum, marks the division's first foray into live-action television. The project will be overseen by Laika's Alex Maggioni and Fruit Tree's Amy Hodge, with Emma Stone and Dave McCary also joining as executive producers.
The bidding war for Exit Party ended with Laika's live-action arm emerging as the winner. Established three years ago, the division is based in Los Angeles, separate from the studio's animation headquarters in Portland. Matt Levin, president of the live-action division, will lead the adaptation as the company's inaugural TV venture.
*Exit Party* weaves a tale of doubles, shadow worlds, and fractured timelines, all unfolding against the backdrop of a glittering Los Angeles party. The novel, still being adapted by Mandel herself, is set for release in September. She chose Laika after being impressed by their clear communication and structured proposal. Fruit Tree, the production company co-founded by Stone and McCary, has come on board to co-produce. Their involvement adds further weight to the project, which will be guided by Maggioni and Hodge in key oversight roles.
The adaptation of Exit Party will serve as Laika's first live-action TV series. With the novel's September release approaching, the project is now in development under a team of experienced producers. The deal solidifies the studio's expansion into live-action storytelling.
