Imagine Entertainment Adapts Daniel Kraus’ WWI Novel ‘Angel Down’ for the Big Screen
Daniel Kraus Teams Up with Imagine Entertainment for ‘Angel Down’ Film Adaptation
In a significant development for the film industry, author Daniel Kraus is partnering once again with Imagine Entertainment to adapt his novel Angel Down into a feature film. This collaboration follows the production of Whalefall, another of Kraus’s survival thrillers, which is being developed by 20th Century Studios and features actors Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin.
Angel Down, lauded as one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2025, narrates the harrowing tale of Private Cyril Bagger. Having survived the traumas of World War I through cunning and deception, Bagger is thrust into a deadly mission with four fellow soldiers, tasked with euthanizing a wounded comrade in the treacherous No Man’s Land. However, their encounter with what appears to be a fallen angel may offer a chance to end the war—if the soldiers can overcome their personal demons and work together.
Kraus, who published Angel Down last July, will write the screenplay for the film adaptation, following his co-writing role in the upcoming Whalefall movie. Brian Grazer will produce, with Allan Mandelbaum, Valerie Novotny, and Jeb Brody overseeing the project for Imagine. Kraus’s representatives, Richard Abate and Will Rowbotham of 3 Arts Entertainment, will serve as executive producers.
Mandelbaum expressed high regard for Kraus, stating, “Daniel Kraus is one of the most distinct voices and extraordinary talents we’ve come across in recent memory. His ability to blend bold, high-concept genre stories with deeply human characters is second to none, and Angel Down is no exception.” He added that the team at Imagine is excited to collaborate with Kraus again, following their successful work on Whalefall.
Earlier this year, reports highlighted Imagine’s efforts to bring Whalefall to the screen. Directed by Brian Duffield, the film is set to release in theaters on October 16. The story follows a scuba diver searching for his deceased father’s remains, only to find himself swallowed by a massive sperm whale, facing a time-sensitive quest for survival. Whalefall has received significant accolades, including the Alex Award and recognition as a Best Book of 2023 from various prominent publications.
Kraus’s prior collaborations include co-authoring the screenplay for The Shape of Water with Guillermo del Toro, as well as Trollhunters, which was adapted into an Emmy-winning Netflix series.
As for Imagine Entertainment, the studio is preparing multiple projects on its slate, including The Mosquito Bowl for Netflix, How to Rob a Bank and Spaceballs 2 for Amazon, and the upcoming Alone at Dawn, directed by Ron Howard and starring Anne Hathaway, Adam Driver, and Betty Gilpin.
