Trustbridge Entertainment has secured the dramatic rights to turn Andrew Joseph White’s critically acclaimed queer debut novel, Hell Followed With Us, into a full-length animated feature. The project will be produced by The Matrix co-creator Lilly Wachowski and Sarah Marie Flores through their Anarchists United shingle, alongside Circle Management + Production founding partner Lawrence Mattis, Powerhouse Animation Studios, and producers Daniel Dominguez, Brad Graeber, and Jacob Robinson of Line Mileage.
The animated film will be adapted for the screen by Machete screenwriter Alvaro Rodriguez and Warren Wagner (The Only Safe Place Left Is The Dark). Powerhouse Animation, known for its work on Castlevania and Masters of the Universe, will handle the animation.
“Hell Followed With Us is such a visceral combination of dystopian fantasy, action, and horror that turning it into an epic anime-inspired feature was a no-brainer,” said Bob Higgins, president of Trustbridge Entertainment. “The gut-wrenching personal journey at the heart of this story requires filmmakers with an authentic point of view, and that’s exactly what we have with this dream team.”
Wachowski, Flores, and Mattis echoed these sentiments, expressing their excitement to work on White’s novel. “We are beyond thrilled to be part of this team supporting Andrew Joseph White’s harrowing novel. Hell Followed With Us shines a much-needed light on the power of found family and the fight to protect our LGBTQIA+ siblings from dogmatic hate.”
Published in 2022 by Peachtree Teen, Hell Followed With Us follows the journey of transgender teen Benji, who escapes a fundamentalist cult that has triggered Armageddon. However, Benji is infected by a bioweapon that will soon turn him into a monstrous creature, capable of wiping out what’s left of humanity. Along the way, he finds solace in a group of teens holed up in an LGBTQ+ youth center.
The novel, which features transmasculine and autism representation, received immediate acclaim upon release. White’s subsequent books, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth (2023) and Compound Fracture (2024), have solidified his status as a vital voice in young adult fiction. White will consult on the film’s development and production.
“From working with queer and neurodivergent artists to tackling the book’s hardest topics with enthusiasm, the production team has an amazing vision for Hell Followed With Us,” said White. “I can’t wait to bring the book’s rage at a transphobic world to a new audience, especially when we need it most.”
The deal was brokered by Stephen Moore of The Kohner Agency on behalf of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, with White’s manager, Kimberly Guidone, serving as executive producer. Rodriguez is repped by Authentic Talent & Literary, CAA, and GGSSC, while Wachowski is repped by WME, Circle Management + Production, and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark.
