Amazon MGM adapts ND Stevenson’s 'Scarlet Morning' into feature film

ND Stevenson’s fantasy novel Scarlet Morning is moving toward the screen as a feature film for Amazon MGM, with Kate Herron set to direct and co‑write the screenplay alongside Kari Granlund, while veteran producer Roy Lee backs the project. The announcement came this week as Amazon confirmed the adaptation is in early development and that Herron will also serve as executive producer.

Stevenson, best known for the graphic novel Nimona and the animated series She‑Ra and the Princesses of Power, has become a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. Scarlet Morning, a pirate‑themed adventure set in a mythic archipelago, marks Stevenson’s first full‑length novel and has generated buzz among readers for its vivid world‑building and queer‑positive characters. The move to adapt the book follows a wave of high‑profile literary adaptations that streaming services are using to diversify their catalogs and attract niche audiences.

Herron, who earned acclaim directing the Emmy‑winning Doctor Who episode “The Haunting of Villa Diodati” and the Netflix series The Witcher: Blood Origin, brings genre experience to the project. Granlund, a writer on The Last of Us and The Witcher, adds further expertise in fantasy storytelling. Roy Lee, whose résumé includes The Lego movies and the recent Aladdin remake, will oversee production. Amazon has not set a budget or casting details, but insiders say the script is expected to be completed by early next year, after which the studio will decide on a green‑light. Fans of Stevenson’s work have taken to social media with enthusiasm, praising the partnership and hoping the film will retain the novel’s inclusive spirit.

The next steps involve script revisions, securing a production schedule and attaching a lead cast. If green‑lit, the film could begin shooting in 2025 with a release on Amazon’s Prime Video platform, bolstering the service’s slate of original fantasy fare. The adaptation signals Amazon’s intent to invest in creator‑driven content that blends adventure with diverse representation, a formula that could pay off both critically and commercially.