Aaron Blabey, the Australian bestselling author behind The Bad Guys, is bringing another imaginative world to life, with his upcoming book series Game of Pets set to be developed into a feature film franchise.
The project will see Blabey reunite with Foundation Media, the production company behind the screen adaptations of The Bad Guys and Thelma the Unicorn. Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group will also be involved in developing and producing the film franchise, marking another major step in expanding Blabey’s work beyond the page.
First introduced as a film concept, Game of Pets has since evolved into a new illustrated book series, blending outrageous humour, science fiction and an unconventional take on the relationship between humans and their beloved animals.
The story centres on Griff, an 11-year-old boy with numerous allergies who finally gets a pet of his own: an axolotl named Bob. However, the unusual new companion has a startling revelation. According to Bob, Earth is part of a sinister intergalactic game show in which alien contestants use household pets as avatars to manipulate humans into making destructive decisions that could ultimately destroy the planet.
Griff soon finds himself in the unlikely position of being humanity’s only hope, but convincing anyone else that his talking axolotl is telling the truth proves to be a challenge of its own.
The premise promises a chaotic, family-friendly adventure that combines Blabey’s trademark comedy with a larger science-fiction story. With pets at the centre of an extraterrestrial conspiracy, the project offers a fresh spin on the animated and family-film landscape.
Blabey is already an established name in family entertainment. His The Bad Guys books inspired the successful DreamWorks Animation films, while Thelma the Unicorn received a Netflix adaptation. He also served as an executive producer on these projects, bringing experience in translating his distinctive storytelling style to the screen.
The announcement follows a major publishing deal with Macmillan for two new middle-grade series, including Game of Pets. The first instalment, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, introduces readers to Griff and Bob’s extraordinary discovery, with further adventures planned for the series.
Although casting, a director and a release date for the Game of Pets film have yet to be announced, the planned adaptation signals confidence in Blabey’s latest creation and its potential to become another recognisable family entertainment property.
With its mix of bizarre humour, intergalactic stakes and suspicious household pets, Game of Pets could offer audiences a wildly entertaining new adventure when it eventually makes its way to the screen.
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