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21 Books to Read Before They Become 2017's Biggest Adaptations
Bookworms and movie buffs, unite: 2017 may just be your year. In the coming months, book-to-screen adaptations will bring the works of Margaret Atwood, Dave Eggers, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, and Gillian Flynn—among many others—to the big and small screen.
In addition to the list below, we're still eagerly awaiting the 2017 release dates for movie versions of Jeannette Walls' memoir, The Glass Castle, starring Brie Larson, and Jeff VanderMeer's science fiction thriller, Annihilation, starring Natalie Portman. And in the TV world, HBO has announced it's airing a series based on Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects, starring Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson.
Check out the upcoming book-to-screen adaptations below and tell us which movies you're excited about—and the ones for which you still need to read the book!
April 16
Adapted from Philippa Gregory's bestselling novel, this new TV series on Starz follows Elizabeth of York, daughter of the White Queen, and her turbulent marriage to England's King Henry VII. It stars Jodie Comer and Jacob Collins-Levy.
April 21
Craving a bit of true-life drama? Travel deep into the 1920s Amazon on an ill-fated expedition in this film, based on the book by David Grann. It stars Charlie Hunnam, Sienna Miller, and Tom Holland.
April 22
Based on Rebecca Skloot's true story of an African American woman who posthumously becomes an unwitting medical pioneer—and her family's fight for justice. It stars Oprah Winfrey, Rose Byrne, and Courtney B. Vance.
April 26
Based on Margaret Atwood's classic feminist dystopian novel, this ten-episode series stars Elisabeth Moss, Alexis Bledel, Jordana Blake, and O.T. Fagbenle.
April 28
Dave Eggers' thriller follows the dark turns that occur when a young woman goes to work at the world's most powerful internet company. It stars Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, and John Boyega.
April 30
Neil Gaiman's fantasy that follows gods who immigrate to America premieres on Starz with an eight-episode season. It stars Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, and Emily Browning.
May 5
Just how far will parents go to protect their children? Far enough to earn an R rating! Based on the disturbing book by Herman Koch, the film stars Richard Gere, Laura Linney, and Steve Coogan.
May 12
This Netflix series is based on the whimsical and charming childhood classic Anne of Green Gables and stars newcomer Amybeth McNulty, who beat out 1,800 young actresses to score the part.
May 12
We love a good folktale retelling. This film is based on Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. Well, loosely based. It's directed by king-of-the-cool-action-movie Guy Ritchie and stars Charlie Hunnam and Hermione Corfield.
May 19
Jeff Kinney's beloved children's series focuses on Greg Heffley navigating his way through the world of middle school. The movie version stars Alicia Silverstone, Tom Everett Scott, and Alexa Blair Robertson.
May 19
This movie is based on Nicola Yoon's young adult novel about a girl who's allergic to the world. Then one day a boy moves next door and everything changes. It stars Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, and Anika Noni Rose.
May 21
Here's a tricky one: 25 years ago this was a TV show, which inspired a book, which is now returning as a Showtime series. Got that? Check out Mark Frost's secret history of the town with damn good coffee. It stars Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, and Sheryl Lee.
June 2
Dav Pilkey's underdressed superhero has been amusing kids for years. Now he's making his big-screen debut. The film stars Jordan Peele, Nick Kroll, and Kevin Hart.
July 14
Daphne du Maurier's romantic mystery follows a young man who seeks revenge on his cousin's beautiful widow. It stars Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, and Holliday Grainger.
July 25
Want to sink your teeth into some paranormal TV? Charlaine Harris, whose work inspired HBO's True Blood, returns to TV with this series on the NBC network. It stars François Arnaud, Dylan Bruce, and Arielle Kebbel.
July 28
We know, we know: This is the one many of you have been eagerly or anxiously anticipating. Stephen King's epic fantasy will star Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, and Katheryn Winnick.
September 8
But wait! There's even more Stephen King headed to theaters this year! The reason you're afraid of clowns will star Bill Skarsgård, Finn Wolfhard, and Javier Botet.
October TBD
David Fincher (of House of Cards fame) returns with his second Netflix show, which follows an FBI agent (played by Jonathan Groff) who develops crime-profiling techniques by interviewing serial killers.
October 20
Charles Martin's story of a couple who survive a plane crash in the mountains and their struggle to survive will star Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, and Dermot Mulroney.
November 17
Based on the adored book by R.J. Palacio, Wonder is a heartwarming story of a young boy with a facial deformity who works to convince his new classmates that he's one of them. It stars Room's Jacob Tremblay and Julia Roberts.
November 22
This Agatha Christie classic murder mystery, which follows detective Hercule Poirot's investigation of a wealthy American's death aboard the Orient Express, will star Josh Gad, Johnny Depp, and Daisy Ridley.
Which films are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 179 (179 new)
I have to hurry up and read
American Gods, omg!
Can't wait for; It, Everything, Everything, and Wonder to come out! :D
The Nightindale, by Kristin Hannah. So far just a director has been selected.
Great list!
The Empire of a Thousand Planets is also being released under the title "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" on July 21, 2017. It inspired many sci-fi works, including Star Wars.
The Empire of a Thousand Planets is also being released under the title "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" on July 21, 2017. It inspired many sci-fi works, including Star Wars.
Gavin wrote: "Hey, cool, first comment.I want Murder on the Orient Express to come out soon..."
You want November 22nd to come around sooner than November 22nd?
Personally, I can't wait until 2018 for Stargirl. :)
I might watch Captain Underpants. I used to read those books until they got a bit too childish for me.
You got the bit about reading the book first right, most film /TV adaptations are lame. The Handmaid's Tale is one of the most gripping books I've read, but the film was terrible. No sense of dread whatsoever, despite a top notch cast.
Murder on the Orient Express with Johnny Depp? This should be interesting.
Cindy wrote: "The devil and the White city."This would make an awesome movie IF they do not spend all of their time following the devil and ignore the rest of this fascinating tale.
Good suggestion!
Desmond wrote: "Great list!The Empire of a Thousand Planets is also being released under the title "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" on July 21, 2017. It inspired many sci-fi works, i..."
cool! i didn't know this. might have to read this comic.
Mary wrote: "You forgot the Zookeeper's wife!"Thanks, Mary! We were looking toward movies and shows that haven't premiered yet.
Nadia wrote: "Where is All the Bright Places?"Thanks, Nadia! All the Bright Places is set for release in 2018, we kept this list to 2017 releases. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3907584/
I'm going to be interested to see how the tv series of 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood pans out (if we ever get to see it in New Zealand). I wasn't a fan of the movie adaptation in the late 80s/early 90s(? can't remember the date). Total B-grade movie for an A-grade book.Another 'Anne of Green Gables'...oh I don't know if I can handle anyone except Megan Follows doing Anne, nor the late and lovely Jonathan Crombie doing Gilbert [even if the last series did mess with the story and timeline]. We'll see...
And Twin Peaks? What the? Nobody should mess with that - it was a show of the time it came out and I think we shouldn't be re-doing or re-visiting any of it. Last time I saw 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me' I cringed even though I loved it when it came out and sat in the movie theatre eating cherry pie to celebrate.
What would I like to see? If they're going to do LM Montgomery, I wish someone would do the Emily series: Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily's Quest. The writer in me loves the writer in her...
In a weird inversion of "hated the book, but bet the movie will be good," I have my fingers crossed that The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks will be better as a movie. George C. Wolfe wrote the screenplay rather than Skloot, so maybe he downplayed Skloot's self-absorbed focus and actually tells the Lacks' story. Good grief, isn't this something like the fifth or sixth remake of Anne? Colleen Dewhurst and Matthew Cuthbert were perfect as Marilla and Matthew. And do we really need an "edgier and grittier" (per the production team) Anne?
The one I really want to see made is The Night Circus. Summit Entertainment bought the film rights years ago, but has been dark on the project since then. There are some excellent fan-made trailers out there.
I can't wait to see American Goods and Murder on the Orient Express!
I can't wait for American Gods and The Dark Tower! I'm so excited!
I really hope Wonder is good and does the book justice. If it doesn't, I am going to be very upset
I am looking forward to My Cousin Rachel (reading the book atm) & The Handmaid's Tale.
I'm looking forward to The Glass Castle with Woody Harrelson.
Patiently waiting for Deborah Harkness' series based on her All Souls Trilogy and can't wait for Midnight, Texas!
Gavin wrote: "Hey, cool, first comment.I want Murder on the Orient Express to come out soon..."
Yeah, me too. I loved the book and a new movie adaptation will be interesting to say the least. Here's to hoping that they do it right.
The Zookeeper's Wife is not on here and I can't wait to see it in theaters.
Mary wrote: "You forgot the Zookeeper's wife!" At least I'm not the only one who noticed it was not on here.
I can't wait for King's bestseller to become a movie. I will be reading It. This was the blog list I was waiting for.
I've seen an older production of Murder on the Orient Express starring David Suchet and loved it. I'm looking forward to seeing how this classic will be redone! Hoping it is done well.Also - Handmaid's Tale -- Wow!
I feel a bit band-wagoney whenever I read a book because the movie is coming out, but honestly it's a really good push to read books I've always meant to but never got around to. This year it was Murder on the Orient Express- one of those that has been on TBR since the dawn of time but not one I really went out of my way to read. When I heard there was going to be a movie, I finally read it and I'm glad I did!
I cannot wait for "IT" to make it's way into the theaters...
Currently reading 'IT' in preparation for the movie. In love with it so far, and the trailer for the film is amazing.Looking forward to seeing the adaptation of 'The Handmaid's Tale'. Such an incredible book, I hope they do it justice. I haven't seen the movie that was made of it but the series has a good cast so I'm hoping it pans out well. The promotional material has been good so far. I think if done well, it would be excellent. It's certainly a prime time for this story to be brought back up again.
I haven't read the book and therefore I could be way off base here (and if I am, feel free to correct me) but 'Wonder' makes me think of a YA version of 'Mask'. That movie is absolutely heart-wrenching and it has a very similar plotline (boy with severe facial deformities trying to be accepted). If anyone enjoyed 'Wonder' and is looking forward to the movie adaptation, I would also recommend looking up 'Mask' and watching that in the meantime. Highly recommend it.
why would you make the link to imdb and not the book on goodreads??!!
Meg wrote: "why would you make the link to imdb and not the book on goodreads??!!"Thank you! I thought the same thing. Or at least have a link to both.
The Lost City of Z, Everything, Everything,
My Cousin Rachel,
IT
can't wait.
Murder on the Orient Express!! I remember reading the book in highschool, I might need to re-read it before the movie comes out though :)
I want Murder on the Orient Express to come out soon...