To follow up on his latest feature, the critically acclaimed sci-fi mindbender Annihilation, writer-director Alex Garland is bringing his vision of a female-led future into the real world as well. As Variety reports, after an intense bidding war Garland has sold his newest script, a family fantasy called The Toymaker’s Secret, to TriStar, with Paloma Baeza—an award-winning actress and director who also happens to be Garland’s wife—set to direct.
The Toymaker’s Secret will be a first for both Garland and Baeza: This is his first foray into family-friendly material, and her first foray into directing live action. Baeza says the film will incorporate both, telling Variety: “This project will join my love of animation with a live-action world, and it’s fantastic to be bringing this story to life.” The story revolves around an American family that moves into an old Victorian house in London, where they quickly discover they may not be alone. (Ghosts. We’re talking about ghosts.)
You can watch the trailer for Baeza’s BAFTA award-winning short Poles Apart below.