James Cameron announced that his next film will be a feature adaptation of British author Joe Abercrombie’s dark-fantasy bestseller The Devils, sharing the news on his Lightstorm Facebook page on 2 June.
The filmmaker said he has acquired full screen rights and will co-write the screenplay with Abercrombie after wrapping post-production on Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Published on 6 May, the 560-page novel opened at No. 1 on The Sunday Times list and debuted at No. 5 on The New York Times hardcover chart in its first U.S. week.
Retail data show sustained momentum on Amazon’s preorder charts, where Tor’s first print run quickly sold out.
Gamespot notes that early demand has already triggered a second U.S. printing ahead of the 13 May retail date.
Set in an alternate medieval Europe stalked by carnivorous elves, the story follows a ragtag band of monsters hired to protect humanity, blending gallows humour with brutal combat—elements reviewers call classic Abercrombie.
Cameron, in his post, praised the novel’s “roller-coaster twists” and “jaundiced view of human nature,” saying he is eager to bring its “indelible characters” to screen.
Abercrombie responded on his blog that Cameron’s balance of spectacle and emotional stakes made him “the ideal partner” for the adaptation.
ScreenRant and World of Reel commentators highlighted that the project marks Cameron’s first venture into epic fantasy after decades dominated by science-fiction megahits.
Spanish outlet MeriStation added that no timetable has been fixed, but internal Lightstorm planning points to a writers’ room forming in early 2026.Hindustan Times reported that long-time producing partner Jon Landau is expected to oversee the film through Lightstorm’s deal at 20th Century Studios, though contracts are still being finalised.
Industry chatter on IMDb’s newswire suggests that a two-picture structure is “under discussion,” given the novel’s scale, yet the studio has declined comment.
