The hit book Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, published last year on June 3, 2025, is set to get a movie adaptation! In fact, its movie rights were acquired even before the book was released!
Called the biggest book of the year by book lovers and voted the top book to read in summer by Goodreads users, fans are thrilled that Reid’s latest book is heading to the big screen.
Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Atmosphere is her ninth novel and one of many of her books to get an onscreen adaptation! Some of her books have already been adapted, while others, like Malibu Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, are in development.
As one of the most anticipated books of the year, it wasn’t surprising when it was announced that the Atmosphere movie adaptation was in development as well!
This historical fiction book is considered to be one of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best works yet. Within just a few months of its release, it has become one of the year’s best sellers, and everyone who’s read it has liked it.
Although fans are excited to know the movie adaptation of Atmosphere is in development, it still has time before it hits the big screen, as it is in pre-production!
What is the Plot of the Atmosphere Movie?
As with most book adaptations, the makers will keep the movie’s plot the same as the book because changing the story wouldn’t make sense.
That will be the case with Atmosphere as well; however, there might be minor differences to condense the novel’s story into a feature-length movie!
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins-Reid tells the tale of Joan Goodwin, who wants to be amongst the stars. She worked as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University until she saw an advertisement seeking women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.
In 1980, she was selected for training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, along with other applicants, pilot Hank Redmond, scientist John Griffin, mission specialists Lydia Danes and Donna Fitzgerald, and engineer Vanessa Ford.
Joan not only finds a place where she belongs, but also finds love. Then, in December 1984, a mission changed everything.
If you haven’t read the book yet, then check out its official synopsis to get a better idea of the adaptation’s plot:
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.
As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.
Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changed in an instant.
Atmosphere Movie Release Date:
Before Taylor Jenkins Reid’s book even hit shelves, the movie was announced, which isn’t surprising given the author’s previous successes.
With the movie only announced last year, it’s still in early production, so don’t expect it to hit theaters anytime soon. If things go right, we may see the movie released in late 2027 or later. And that’s assuming the development process goes smoothly and filming begins soon.
To stay updated on movie news, consider following Reid’s social media, as that’s where we’ll first hear about the film adaptation.
Who is the Cast & Crew of the Atmosphere Movie?
An official cast for Atmosphere hasn’t been announced yet. However, with production currently expected to begin in October 2026, casting news could be one of the next major updates we receive about the movie.
We’ll update this section as soon as Joan Goodwin, Vanessa Ford, and the rest of the movie’s cast are officially revealed.
Who is Developing the Atmosphere Movie Adaptation?
Laika, the studio best known for acclaimed stop-motion films such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is developing Atmosphere as a live-action movie through its expanding live-action division.
Filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck are writing and directing the adaptation, while Taylor Jenkins Reid is also directly involved as a producer.
The project received another major boost in September 2026 when Black Bear acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film and joined Laika as a co-financier. The company plans to give Atmosphere a theatrical release in the United States and its territories while also handling international sales.
Laika’s Travis Knight, Matt Levin, and Jeremy Kipp Walker are producing alongside Boden and Fleck, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Brad Mendelsohn of Circle M+P. Maryse Knight and Zac Locke serve as executive producers.
Should You Read The Book Instead?
We assume you’ve read Atmosphere, but if not, now is the time to dive in and discover what all the fuss is about!
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s book is a fantastic addition to the historical fiction genre, exploring complex relationships, sexism, LGBT issues, and offering a glimpse into the challenges women in STEM still face.
Does this sound like you? If so, go to a bookstore or library near you and read the book before the Atmosphere movie officially releases!
Upcoming Book Adaptations: