From Bestselling Pages to Big Screen: Amazon MGM Studios Taps ‘The Bad Guys’ Creator for ‘Game of Pets’ Adaptation

In a major move to solidify its animation slate, Amazon MGM Studios has officially greenlit the development of an animated feature film based on Game of Pets, the breakout middle-grade book series from prolific author and illustrator Aaron Blabey. The project reunites a powerhouse production team that has become synonymous with some of the most successful family-friendly franchises of the last decade, bridging the gap between literary success and cinematic spectacle.

The Premise: An Intergalactic Conspiracy in the Living Room

The narrative of Game of Pets centers on Griff, an 11-year-old boy whose life is complicated by severe allergies and the typical hurdles of middle school. However, his world is turned upside down when he discovers the truth about his surroundings: Earth is not the quiet planet it appears to be. Instead, it serves as the stage for a high-stakes, secret intergalactic game show.

The architects of this cosmic competition? The very pets that humans have invited into their homes. Guided by a talking axolotl named Bob, Griff realizes that his domestic companions are actually powerful, manipulative overlords. The series—the first installment of which, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, debuted at No. 4 on the New York Times Children’s Middle Grade Hardcover bestseller list—follows Griff as he attempts to save the planet while navigating the suspicious, often dangerous behavior of his own pets.

The Creative Powerhouse: A Proven Pedigree

The production is being spearheaded by two industry heavyweights: Rideback and Foundation Media Partners.

Rideback, led by co-CEOs Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso, brings significant momentum to the project. The studio is fresh off the massive success of the live-action Lilo & Stitch, which recently crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, signaling a clear appetite for the studio’s brand of high-concept storytelling. Rideback’s history also includes the 2019 live-action Aladdin, demonstrating their ability to handle large-scale, audience-pleasing IP with global reach.

Foundation Media Partners, the Los Angeles-based firm founded by Patrick Hughes, acts as the bridge between the publishing and film worlds. Hughes has been instrumental in the development of Blabey’s intellectual properties, including the Bad Guys franchise and the 2024 Netflix adaptation Thelma the Unicorn. The inclusion of both firms ensures that the transition from page to screen maintains the distinct, irreverent tone that has become the hallmark of Aaron Blabey’s work.

Chronology of a Publishing Phenomenon

To understand the significance of this adaptation, one must look at the meteoric rise of Aaron Blabey’s career over the last few years.

• 2010s: Building the Empire: Blabey established himself as a dominant force in children’s literature with titles such as Pig the Pug and Cat on the Run. With over 60 million books currently in print, his ability to craft character-driven humor with wide appeal has made him one of the most sought-after authors in the animation industry.
• 2022: The Bad Guys Breakout: The first feature adaptation of The Bad Guys by DreamWorks Animation proved that Blabey’s visual style and storytelling could translate into massive theatrical earnings. The franchise has grossed nearly half a billion dollars worldwide, cementing his status as a "must-have" creator for major studios.
• 2024: Expanding the Horizon: Netflix released Thelma the Unicorn, executive produced by Blabey, further expanding his footprint in the streaming landscape.
• 2025: The Arrival of Game of Pets: The publication of Game of Pets: The Boy Who Knew Too Much introduced a new, slightly more sci-fi-leaning direction for the author, quickly finding its way onto the New York Times bestseller lists.
• 2026: The Amazon MGM Deal: Following the commercial success of his previous works, Amazon MGM Studios secured the rights, with industry insiders noting that the deal was finalized following a competitive push to capture the next great middle-grade animated franchise.

Supporting Data: The Economics of Middle-Grade Animation

The animation industry has seen a distinct trend toward "proven IP" in the middle-grade sector. Data from the last five years suggests that animated features based on established book series often outperform original screenplays by a significant margin.

• Box Office Performance: DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys grossed approximately $250 million on its initial run, with the sequel, The Bad Guys 2, reinforcing the franchise’s longevity by performing strongly in its theatrical debut last summer.
• Literary Conversion Rates: Publishers like Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group have noted that film adaptations of middle-grade books see an average sales increase of 300% to 500% in the immediate window following a trailer release.
• Streaming Metrics: With the rise of platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, "family content" has become the primary driver for subscriber retention. The acquisition of Game of Pets aligns with Amazon MGM’s broader strategy to compete with Disney+ and Netflix by building a library of high-quality, recognizable animation.

Official Perspectives and Production Dynamics

The production structure for Game of Pets is designed to prioritize fidelity to the source material. By involving Aaron Blabey directly as an executive producer, the studio ensures that the "DNA" of the book—its specific blend of humor, high-stakes science fiction, and pet-related absurdity—remains intact.

"We are thrilled to be working with Aaron to bring this vision to life," a source close to the production noted. "The humor in Game of Pets is universal, but it carries that specific, sharp wit that made The Bad Guys a global phenomenon. Bringing on Nick Reynolds from Rideback as an executive producer further rounds out a team that understands how to translate these specific visual beats into a cinematic language."

The collaboration between Jonathan Eirich, Michael LoFaso, and Patrick Hughes is viewed by analysts as a "gold-standard" arrangement. Hughes’s Foundation Media Partners has a unique specialization in identifying publishing properties that possess the "cinematic velocity" required for animation, while Rideback provides the logistical and financial muscle of a studio that knows how to manage billion-dollar properties.

Implications for the Future of Animation

The decision by Amazon MGM Studios to develop Game of Pets carries several implications for the animation sector:

1. The "Blabey Effect"

Aaron Blabey has effectively become a brand unto himself. His ability to produce content that appeals to both children (who enjoy the slapstick and absurdity) and adults (who appreciate the sharp satire and pacing) has made him the "go-to" for studios looking for the next Shrek or Despicable Me. The success of this film could dictate the trajectory of future literary-to-animated adaptations.

2. The Rise of "High-Concept" Middle-Grade

For years, animation was dominated by fairy tales or animal-centric morality plays. Game of Pets signals a shift toward "high-concept" narratives—stories that integrate sci-fi, conspiracy theories, and meta-humor. This reflects a more sophisticated audience that has grown up on a diet of faster-paced digital content.

3. The Amazon MGM Strategy

Amazon MGM Studios is clearly signaling its intent to capture a larger share of the family entertainment market. By partnering with established producers like Rideback and a proven author like Blabey, they are mitigating the risks associated with new IP. This strategy suggests that we will likely see more aggressive acquisitions of best-selling children’s literature in the coming years.

4. A New Era for Franchise Building

With the Lilo & Stitch live-action sequel already in development and the Bad Guys franchise showing no signs of slowing down, the producers involved in Game of Pets are proving that they are masters of the "sequel-ready" model. Game of Pets is designed from the ground up to be a multi-film narrative, with enough lore and world-building to support an expansive cinematic universe.

Conclusion: What’s Next?

As the project enters the early stages of production, all eyes will be on the casting and the visual direction. Given the success of Blabey’s previous adaptations, fans and critics alike expect a vibrant, high-energy aesthetic that reflects the chaotic, secret world of the animal overlords.

For now, the project remains in active development, with the industry waiting for further announcements regarding the screenwriter and director. If history is any indicator, the journey of Griff and his mysterious axolotl, Bob, is likely to be one of the most anticipated releases in the coming years, further cementing the symbiotic relationship between the bookshelves of the world and the silver screens of Hollywood.