Quick Facts
| Title | The Familiars |
| Book Series By | Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson (4 books, 2010–2013) |
| Planned Film Studio | Sony Pictures Animation (announced 2010) |
| Film Status | Cancelled in January 2013; no film has been released as of 2026 |
| Composer | Not applicable — no film exists to score |
| Note | Not to be confused with The Familiars (2020), an unrelated 16-minute Australian horror short by director Millicent Malcolm |
The Familiars Soundtrack: If you searched for this expecting a 2023 animated movie soundtrack, here’s the honest answer — no such film exists. We’re correcting our own earlier page here, because it previously mixed up two completely unrelated projects that happen to share the title “The Familiars.” Below is what’s actually real.
The Real Book Series
The Familiars is a series of children’s fantasy novels by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, published between 2010 and 2013. The books follow three young “familiars” — a cat named Aldwyn, a blue jay named Skylar, and a tree frog named Gilbert — who discover they have magical powers and must save their wizard masters from an ancient prophecy.
What Happened to the Animated Movie
In September 2010, Sony Pictures Animation announced it was adapting The Familiars into a 3D animated feature, with Doug Sweetland attached to direct and Sam Raimi on board as an executive producer. The film was tentatively eyed for a 2014 release. However, in January 2013, Sony confirmed the project had been cancelled after Sweetland moved on to direct what eventually became Storks at Warner Animation Group. In March 2016, co-author Adam Jay Epstein said the film might still be made at another studio — but no film has surfaced since, in 2023 or at any point through 2026. There is no verified director, composer, voice cast, or release date for an actual Familiars movie, and therefore no real soundtrack to report on.
The Unrelated 2020 Short Film
Our earlier version of this page credited a director named Millicent Malcolm. That name is real, but it belongs to a completely different, unrelated project: The Familiars (2020), a 16-minute Australian horror short film starring Milly Alcock (later of House of the Dragon), produced through the Australian Film Television and Radio School. It has no connection to the Epstein/Jacobson book series, is not animated, and is not a feature-length film. Conflating the two was our mistake, and we’ve corrected it here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a movie based on The Familiars book series?
No. Sony Pictures Animation announced a film adaptation in 2010 but cancelled it in January 2013. Despite comments in 2016 that it could be revived elsewhere, no film has been released as of 2026.
Who directed The Familiars movie?
There is no confirmed director for an actual film adaptation of the book series. Doug Sweetland was originally attached before the Sony project was cancelled.
Is Millicent Malcolm connected to The Familiars book series?
No. Millicent Malcolm directed an unrelated 16-minute Australian horror short film that also happens to be titled The Familiars (2020). It has no connection to the Adam Jay Epstein/Andrew Jacobson novels.
Is there a soundtrack or score for The Familiars?
Not for an animated adaptation of the books — no such film has been made. We won’t invent a composer or tracklist for a movie that doesn’t exist.
Who wrote The Familiars books?
The four-book fantasy series was written by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, published between 2010 and 2013, following the familiars Aldwyn, Skylar, and Gilbert.
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