Topic / Subject

Amazon MGM Studios has acquired the film rights to adapt the YA fantasy novel A Stage Set for Villains for a feature project now in development.

Key Details

• Amazon MGM Studios is developing a feature adaptation after acquiring the rights, per reports that cite Deadline.
• The novel debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Young Adult Hardcover bestseller list in its opening week, per those same reports.
• Producers: Liz Pelletier and Sherryl Clark via Premeditated Productions (operating under a first-look film/TV deal with Amazon MGM), with Cayla Tyne overseeing development.
• Publishing detail: Entangled’s listing shows a Feb. 21, 2026 release date for the book.
• No director, casting, writer, release timing, or distribution plan (theatrical vs. streaming) has been reported in the sources above.
• Quick Links: Deadline (paywalled), Parade, SuperHeroHype.

Breakdown

This is the modern Hollywood conveyor belt in a nutshell: a hot YA title hits big early, and the screen rights get snapped up fast.

The hook here is very “dark fantasy theater kid nightmare fuel” (in a good way): a cursed teen gets pulled into a mysterious theater run by godlike beings, where mortals compete in a lethal game tied to immortality. That kind of high-concept setup is exactly what studios like to grab before the fandom gets too loud.

Production Reality Check

Even with rights secured, this can still take a while. Next steps usually look like: hire a writer, lock a producer-driven take, then chase a director and cast once there’s a script people want to fight over. None of those attachments are public yet.

Does It Make Sense?

Yep. Amazon MGM keeps stocking the “book-to-film/book-to-series” shelf, and Premeditated being under a first-look deal means this is also an in-house pipeline play: find the next breakout, develop it quickly, and see what turns into the next buzzy adaptation.

What to Watch Next

• Writer and/or director attachment (the first real “this is moving” signal).
• Whether it’s positioned for theaters or streaming.
• Any casting buzz once a script exists.
• A concrete development update (greenlight, schedule, or production start).

TL;DR / Summary

Amazon MGM grabbed the film rights to A Stage Set for Villains and has it in development with Premeditated Productions attached to produce—but it’s still early days with no director, cast, or release plan announced.

Sources

• Parade (citing Deadline)
• SuperHeroHype (deal + producing details)
• Deadline (paywalled)
• Entangled Publishing listing (release date)

Comment

If you’ve read it, is this better as a movie or a full season of TV?