Netflix brought author Josh Malerman’s 2014 novel Bird Box to life in 2018. It was shortly after watching the film that Malerman started to wonder what happened to Sandra Bullock’s character Malorie. It was this question that led him back to the Bird Box universe again, and to write a sequel titled Malorie.
In a recent interview with THR, Malerman says the book feels like its for the title character and less about her life. “Sitting down to write Malorie the book almost felt like it was for her or it was her time,” Malerman says. “It felt less like I was writing a sequel to Bird Box and more like I was putting a spotlight on a character that I cherish through a life of writing so far.”
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Malorie (Del Rey) will give a different look at the title character and her two children Tom and Olympia. In the first book they survive unknown creatures that cause anyone who sees them to take their own life or go insane. The latest book picks up 10 years after the characters find a community in a school for the blind.
Having figured out to evade the creatures Malorie and her children embark on an unexpected journey. They set out to find other survivors even though the creatures are still nearby and blindfolds are still needed.
“Bird Box was a bit more about the scenario that she was in and Malorie is a bit more about her than the scenario,” he explains. The new book will also give a look at the now 16-year-old Tom and Olympia. “I feel like Tom and Olympia are like those two teenage reactions to your parents, split up into two people,” Malerman says.
Bird Box was a success for Netflix and was viewed by 45 million accounts worldwide in its first week on the streaming service. When asked whether Malorie would be adapted into a film, Malerman coyly responded: “I can’t say much but the process has begun.”
Even though Malerman has had a horror hit, he says he hasn’t had his “real making it moment.” “I think every horror writers’ ultimate secret fantasy is to come up with a character that people dress up as for Halloween. I’m still waiting for the rubber mask of Malorie blindfolded. That’ll be the day for me!”
Malorie will be released everywhere on July 21, you can currently catch the Netflix film Bird Box currently streaming on Netflix. Be sure to follow ScaryNerd for more of all things horror.
Read the full THR interview here.
