Laika teams up with Phil Lord and Chris Miller for live-action feature film

Laika

Animation studio Laika will produce “Crumble,” an original live-action film based on a script by writer and director Brian Duffield (“Spontaneous,” “No One Will Save You”).

The film tells the story of a married couple who embark on an adventurous journey around the world to find a cure for an ancient curse. Duffield will direct, with Oscar winners Phil Lord and Chris Miller set to produce.

“I’ll never forget watching ‘Coraline’ on opening night at AMC Burbank 16 and wondering who these wonderful new geniuses were,” said Duffield. “I can’t wait to make a film with them and hopefully live up to their reputation, and I couldn’t be more excited to embark on a new adventure with my friends at Lord Miller.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Brian and the entire team at Lord Miller on this special film,” said Matt Levin, president of live-action films and series at Laika, in a statement. “Brian has such a unique voice and ‘Crumble’ perfectly embodies the bold, emotional and imaginative style of storytelling we champion at Laika. Lord Miller is in a class of his own and we couldn’t ask for a better creative team to bring this story to life.”

Duffield’s critically acclaimed film “No One Will Save You,” starring Kaitlyn Dever, was released on Hulu in September 2023 and earned him a Critics Choice nomination for Best Television Movie and a Writers Guild of America Award nomination in the TV and New Media Motion Picture category. He previously wrote, produced and directed “Spontaneous,” produced the Elizabeth Banks-directed film “Cocaine Bear,” and will produce director Jimmy Warden’s upcoming thriller “Borderline.”

The film is the latest expansion of Laika’s ongoing efforts to bolster its live-action division. The production company, responsible for producing critically acclaimed animated films such as “Coraline” and “Kubo: The Courageous Samurai,” hopes to add “Crumble” to an expansion that already includes an upcoming adaptation of John Brownlow’s action thriller novel “Seventeen.”

Aditya Sood will also produce through the Lord Miller label. Lord Miller’s Lucy Kitada and Nikki Baida will serve as executive producers and Duffield will also produce.

Brian Duffield is repped by UTA, Circle of Confusion and Behr Abramson Levy Johnson. UTA and Ziffren Brittenham represent Lord and Miller.