Filmmaker Aaron Burns, founder of Burns & Co., announced today that his studio has optioned the film rights to The Mythmakers by John Hendrix. The indie studio will create an animated feature based on the graphic novel — a biography of literary giants C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and their long-standing friendship.
“C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s works have inspired me for as long as I can remember,” Burns says. “When I read John Hendrix’s The Mythmakers, I immediately knew that Burns & Co. needed to adapt it into an animated film as special as the book. John’s words and images literally leap off the page, so I can’t wait to capture his creativity and craft a timeless film that families can enjoy for years to come.”
The Mythmakers graphic novel has been nominated for the highly acclaimed 2025 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award in the Best Reality-Based Work category. The book takes readers on an adventure into the remarkable friendship and creative fellowship of Lewis and Tolkien in the 20th century. It also shares insights into the creation of each of their masterworks: The Lord of the Rings (by Tolkien) and The Chronicles of Narnia (by Lewis).
Hendrix, a New York Times bestselling author, is also the award-winning creator of The Faithful Spy.
“I am thrilled to have Burns & Co. adapting The Mythmakers into a feature-length, animated film. I knew from our first conversation that their team really understood the book and shared my love for the mythology behind Lewis, Tolkien, the Inklings, and the worlds they built together,” says Hendrix.
“The Mythmakers book itself was a five-year project, but in many ways, the story began in my own heart when I first read The Hobbit when I was 10 years old. I am eager to see how the amazing team led by Aaron Burns translates that nostalgic wonder many of us share to a new audience, in a new medium. As Lewis and Tolkien have taught us, art gets better in community, and I’m excited to share this story with a larger fellowship on the big screen.”
Burns will produce the film alongside award-nominated director Justin Strawhand (War Against the Weak) and producer Angela Galgani Sullivan. Hendrix will serve as executive producer for the film. Strawhand, who wrote the script for Birthright Outlaw, is also developing the screenplay for The Mythmakers.
Follow The Mythmakers production journey via www.burnsco.us, or on Facebook and Instagram.
