Heralded animation studio Lex+Otis has started work on bringing Robert A. Heinlein’s classic Citizen of the Galaxy to the big screen. The film is directed by Jay Oliva with a script by Luke Lieberman. Academy Award winner Ryan Silbert will produce alongside Lieberman and Oliva. Vince Gerardis and Matt Kennedy join as executive producers for Startling, Inc.
First published in 1957, Citizen of the Galaxy is an interstellar coming-of-age story. It begins on the busy trade hub of planet Jubbul, where an orphan named Thorby is sold into slavery. His fate changes when he meets the mysterious Baslim the Beggar. From that moment, Thorby begins a journey that shapes both his destiny and the galaxy itself. Unlike many Heinlein works, this novel has never been adapted for film, television, or video games.
Heinlein is considered one of the founding fathers of modern science fiction. Many of his works have reached the screen over the past 75 years. Highlights include Paul Verhoeven’s cult classic Starship Troopers (1997), Predestination(2014) starring Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook, and The Puppet Masters (1994) featuring Donald Sutherland. Animated versions of his stories include the 1994 mini-series Red Planet with Mark Hamill and Roddy McDowall, and two animated takes on Starship Troopers—one directed by Oliva. Heinlein adaptations stretch back to the early 1950s.
Lieberman wrote the script, while Oliva and his team at Lex+Otis are deep in visual development. The film is targeting a possible release in early 2027.
Oliva is one of animation’s most respected veterans. He has directed award-winning films for DC/Warner Bros. and Marvel/Disney and worked as lead storyboard artist on major blockbusters. In 2018, he founded Lex+Otis to create original, immersive stories across platforms. Their projects include Netflix’s anime-styled Trese, Ark: The Animated Series, RAID: Call of the Arbiter, and Zack Snyder’s Twilight of the Gods. Upcoming titles include Cradle: Unsouled, based on Will Wight’s bestselling books, and INFINITY: Paradise Lost, inspired by Corvus Belli’s hit tabletop game.
“This is an inspiring, come-full-circle career moment for me, having begun my animation directing career in the late 1990s on Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles, which were based within one of Heinlein’s most famous stories,” said Oliva. “It’s a joy and an honor to return to these massively imaginative roots, and to bring one of Heinlein’s previously unproduced works to a medium the entire planet can experience and enjoy.”
Lieberman is a writer, producer, and brand architect. He led the development of the Red Sonja franchise, overseeing hundreds of comics and novels. He also produced the Red Sonja film released last week after its warm Comic-Con reception. Early in his career, he worked with Stan Lee, later co-creating the bestselling Alliances universe with Lee and Silbert.
“Citizen is a book I’ve always wanted to adapt, so I’m really grateful for this opportunity,” said Lieberman. “Thorby has such a compelling character arc on his journey through the stars. He travels every walk of life, treads a mile in many different shoes, set against the biggest canvas possible, and sprung from Robert Heinlein’s wild imagination full of his wisdom and insights. This is a special story and I can’t wait to share it with a whole new generation.”
Silbert, an Oscar-winning storyteller, is founder of Origin Story Entertainment. His projects include collaborations with James Patterson, Stan Lee, and Stephen King. He is currently developing Night of the Living Dead and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon for film.
“Heinlein has been the gold standard for a generation of science fiction fandom,” said Silbert. “Jay and Luke have a vision for this adaptation that expands on Heinlein’s original work in a way that takes advantage of everything that the animation medium offers. We couldn’t be more excited to be starting this journey together.”
Startling, Inc., founded by Gerardis, is known for bold, large-scale storytelling. Its credits include HBO’s Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, AMC’s Dark Winds, and films such as Predestination and Jumper. The company manages a vast library of science fiction and fantasy, with works from George R.R. Martin, Robert Heinlein, Larry Niven, Robert Silverberg, and Kim Stanley Robinson.
“Vince and I are thrilled to be working with Luke, Ryan, and Jay on bringing this timeless classic of literature to life,” said Kennedy. “With its bold exploration of freedom, identity, and human nature, this iconic story is the perfect foundation for an animated film that will captivate both long-time fans and new audiences alike.”
