Earlier in year Publisher Weekly published a great list of upcoming book to film adaptations. (Will look for a book to tv list as well). It’s worrisome that the few that have been released so far are not getting the best reviews. You can not overlook the difficulty of capturing the essence of what makes a book great, and how this can dilute in the long process to screen.
1. If Beale Street Could Talk (TBA)
‘James Baldwin’s estate has put its support behind this adaptation of Baldwin’s 1974 novel, written and directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight). Jenkins. He was working on the script for Beale Street when he was working on Moonlight, and he’s again working with a number of key Moonlight personnel, including James Laxton as director of photography, and Joi McMillan and Nat Sanders as editors. The story follows Clementine “Tish” Rivers (Kiki Layne), a woman in Harlem desperately scrambling to prove her fiancé (Stephan James) innocent of a crime while carrying their first child. The film co-stars Brian Tyree Henry, Dave Franco, Diego Luna, Regina King as Tish’s mother, and Colman Domingo as Tish’s father. Expect it to arrive during award season.’ Always here for Barry Jenkins, and definitly have a hankering for some Baldwin after that amazing documetry from last year ‘ I Am Not Your Negro’. Plus it looks to have a top-notch cast.
2. A Wrinkle in Time (March 9)
‘Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic comes with a budget over $100 million, so expect lots of great visuals when it hits IMAX screens in March. After learning her astrophysicist father (Chris Pine) is being held captive on a distant planet deep in the grip of a universe-spanning evil, Meg Murry (Storm Reid) works with her younger brother, her classmate, and three astral travelers (Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling) to save him.’ I certainly will see it, but after the initial reviews, it sounds worrisome. It is the sort of film you REALLY want to like. Will most a b2s review soon.
3. Ready Player One (March 30)
‘In 2045, people are obsessed with a pop-culture-aping virtual reality world called OASIS. Teenager Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) embarks on a treasure hunt for the fortune of the world’s creator. Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance also star. The film, based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller (Cline also co-wrote the movie), is directed by Steven Spielberg. ‘ REVIEW TBA
4. Where’d You Go, Bernadette (May 11)
‘Richard Linklater (the Before trilogy; Boyhood) will direct this adaptation of Maria Semple’s bestselling novel, with Cate Blanchett in the title role. After her anxiety-ridden mother, Bernadette, disappears, 15-year-old Bee does everything she can to track her down, discovering her troubled past in the process. The movie co-stars Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, Judy Greer, Laurence Fishburne, Troian Bellisario, and James Urbaniak.’ Does this not sound like it has a bit of quirky/twee Wes Anderson to it?
5. The Sisters Brothers (TBA)
‘Patrick deWitt’s ridiculously fun buddy western, a finalist for the Booker, is getting an adaptation by Jacques Audiard (A Prophet). Set in the 1850s, the story follows two notorious assassin brothers Eli and Charlie Sisters (John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix), who are hired to kill prospector Hermann Kermit Warm (Jake Gyllenhaal) by their boss, the Commodore (Rutger Hauer). Much delightful chaos ensues. The film costars Riz Ahmed as Warm’s partner, Morris, and Carol Kane as Mrs. Sisters.’ Love me some deWitt, he creates such loveable chaos. Feels like he takes a lot from Mervyn Peake and Douglas Adams.
6. Crazy Rich Asians (August 17)
‘Based on Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel, the film follows American-born Chinese economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), who travels with her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding), to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. There, she finds out Nick comes from an extremely wealthy family and that he’s a very sought-after bachelor. The ensemble cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Ken Jeong, Harry Shum Jr., Awkwafina, Jimmy O. Yang, and Gemma Chan.’ This is my number one out of the list. I will so be there first weekend. Constance Wu is amazing, and the mental gaudiness of this really sells.
7. Annihilation (February 23)
‘This sci-fi film, based on Jeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel (the first of his Southern Reach trilogy), is about a biologist (Natalie Portman) joining an expedition to find her missing husband (Oscar Isaac) in an environmental disaster zone (the less you know, the better). The cast also includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, and David Gyasi. Alex Garland (Ex Machina) is directing.’ Ugh loved this book so hard, so will not spoil my feelings about the film. But based on how hard it’s panned you’ll be able to guess. Review coming soon.
8. Red Sparrow (March 2)
‘This spy thriller based on Jason Matthews’s novel, Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is a former Russian ballerina forced into a Russian intelligence program in order to get her mother medical care. She falls for an American mole in Russia (Joel Edgerton), whom she is tasked with exposing. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film co-stars Jeremy Irons, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Charlotte Rampling. ‘
9. Fahrenheit 451 (TBA)
‘First adapted as a film in 1966 by François Truffaut, Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel will see another version this year on HBO, directed by Ramin Bahrani. In a dystopian world, fireman Montag (Michael B. Jordan) questions his job burning books and battles his mentor Beatty (Michael Shannon).’
‘Sarah Waters’s thoroughly creepy gothic novel, this year will see Lenny Abrahamson (director of Room) bring it to the big screen. In the summer of 1947, Farady (Domhnall Gleeson), a country doctor, is called to care for a patient at Hundreds Hall, the declining estate where his mother once worked. There, he becomes involved with the Ayers family, who may be haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life. The movie co-stars Ruth Wilson, Will Poulter, and Charlotte Rampling.’
The Book to Screen Club 