‘Astronaut Instruction Manual’ Heading to TV From Legendary, Matt Tolmach (Exclusive)

Legendary Television is in early development to adapt The Astronaut Instruction Manual, the YA book by space enthusiast and first-time author Mike Mongo, for television.

Matt Tolmach will executive produce through his deal with Legendary alongside David Manpearl, who will executive produce for Matt Tolmach Productions. Brooklyn Weaver also will exec produce.

The book, which acts more like an empowering handbook than a novel, takes readers on an inspiring journey into the world of space travel, providing a how-to guide for a new generation of explorers that prepares them for the wonders and mysteries of interstellar life.

It has been endorsed by teachers, scientists and Congressmen, and is the first in a planned series of manuals, all designed to give the reader a fun, practical, first-person point of view into what it takes to become an astronaut. 

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The book hails from Inkshare, which bills itself as a Kickstarter for books that also acts as a publisher and an IP company. Among its titles are medieval-set horror Abomination by screenwriter Gary Whitta (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Manu Saadia’s wonky fun Trekonomics and Filip Syta’s raunchy Silicon Valley novel The Show.

Astronaut is Inkshare’s first published book and the rights went out to market for both film and TV.

Tolmach, who was a producer on the recent Spider-Man movies, is producing the Jumanji remake that will star Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black and also is producing Rock That Body, a comedy with Scarlett Johansson and Kate McKinnon. Both are going into production later this summer.

Legendary Television is in production on the new comedy series Downward Dog from creators Samm Hodges and Michael Killen for ABC with ABC Studios, and is working on season two of Colony from creators Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal for USA with Universal Cable Productions.

Legendary recently completed production on season two of Love from creators Judd Apatow, Paul Rust and Lesley Arfin and will soon begin production on the first season of Lost in Space. Both are for Netflix.

Mongo is repped by Energy Entertainment.