Disney is once again turning to the pages of a beloved book for inspiration — and this time, things are about to get rather dreamy.
As Disney continues to look beyond its established worlds for fresh stories to bring to audiences, Disney Live Action is developing a feature adaptation of Korean author Miye Lee’s bestselling fantasy novel The Dallergut Dream Department Store.
And for book lovers, this is certainly an interesting one to watch.
The story follows Penny, who has just landed what could quite literally be considered her dream job: working at the legendary Dallergut Dream Department Store.
But this isn’t your typical department store.
Instead of clothing, toys or everyday goods lining its shelves, customers come to purchase dreams to experience once they fall asleep.
Of course, a job this magical isn’t going to remain quite so simple.
When strange and increasingly dangerous things begin happening to the store’s sleeping customers, Penny finds herself at the center of a mystery. With the threat of a nightmare spreading beyond the store, it is up to her to discover exactly what is happening before things get even worse.
It is the type of imaginative premise that feels right at home within Disney’s fantasy storytelling landscape, while also giving the studio another opportunity to introduce audiences to a world that hasn’t already spent decades on screen.
And there is already quite the audience waiting for it.
The Dallergut Dream Department Store became a No. 1 bestseller in Korea and has sold more than two million copies across over 20 territories. Even more importantly, the book is only the beginning, serving as the first installment of a trilogy.
Meaning there could be plenty more dreams waiting should Disney’s first trip to the department store prove successful.
Disney has also found someone rather familiar with bringing beloved books from page to screen.
Patrick Ness has been tapped to adapt the screenplay. Ness is himself an acclaimed children’s and young adult author and previously adapted his own novels A Monster Calls and Chaos Walking for their respective feature films. His work also includes creating and writing the Doctor Who spinoff Class.
There is no word yet on who may step into the role of Penny, who will direct or when Disney hopes to bring The Dallergut Dream Department Store to theaters.
Still, the project represents another intriguing book-to-screen addition to Disney’s developing live-action slate — and one that brings a distinctly different fantasy world along with it.
For a studio built on turning fantastical places into cinematic worlds, a mysterious department store where customers shop for their nightly dreams certainly gives Disney plenty to play with.
Now we just have to wait and see when those doors officially open.