It’s become common place for comic books to be adapted as movies and TV shows, as well as video games and novels. Now, one is getting the operatic treatment. The Minnesota Opera is collaborating with BOOM! Studios to develop an opera adaptation of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, based on the comic by writer Ram V, artist Filipe Andrade, and colorist Inês Amaro.

The adaptation is part of the Minnesota Opera company’s New Works initiative with composer Kamala Sankaram and librettist Minita Gandhi. There will be a piano workshop in November 2024 with musical coaching and ensemble rehearsals to fine tune the opera.

“It’s an honor to have one of the most acclaimed graphic novels that BOOM! Studios has ever published, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, make history by becoming the first graphic novel to be adapted as an opera,” BOOM! Studios President of Development Stephen Christy said. “I’m thankful to our collaborators at the Minnesota Opera Company and our fearless creative team of Kamala Sankaram and Minita Gandhi for their groundbreaking vision in adapting Ram V and Filip Andrade’s meditation on life and death to the stage.”

“The Many Deaths of Laila Starr graphic novel explores themes of life, death, and rebirth through a magical-realism lens,” per BOOM!’s description. “The story follows Laila Starr, an avatar of Death, who is cast down to Earth after humanity discovers immortality. As she intersects with the life of Darius, the boy responsible for this discovery, Laila experiences multiple deaths and resurrections, gaining new perspectives on mortality and the meaning of existence.”

The graphic novel was originally published in 2021 and was nominated for the Best Limited Series Eisner Award in 2022.

The operatic adaptation of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr will be performed at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota. The dates have yet to be announced.