Book-to-film adaptations coming in 2017
The second half of 2017 promises a wide selection of book-to-film adaptations, with remakes of popular classics, adaptions of new sci-fi novels and much in between. Christina Copeland rounds up some of the most anticipated adaptations.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier (various imprints), a romantic mystery set in the early 19th century, is being adapted for film by Roger Michell (Persuasion, Notting Hill). Starring Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin (Finnick Odair in the Hunger Games), My Cousin Rachel hits Australian cinemas in June.
A film adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s YA novel Everything, Everything (Corgi) has been getting a lot of attention recently. It’s a romance story that follows 18-year-old Maddie (played by Amandla Stenberg—another Hunger Games actor!), who suffers from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and cannot leave her house; and Olly (Nick Robinson from Jurassic World and The 5th Wave), the boy who moves in next door. Look out for this much-anticipated release in July.
The Circle by Dave Eggers (Hamish Hamilton) is a futuristic novel about technology that may not be as futuristic as we’d like to think. Emma Watson and Tom Hanks star in the movie adaptation, which is directed by James Ponsoldt and written by Ponsodlt and Eggars. The Circle is coming to Australian cinemas in July.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is adapted from the French sci-fi comic book series ‘Valérian and Laureline’, written by Pierre Christin and illustrated by Jean-Claude Mézières (CineBook). The movie, directed by Luc Besson, stars Cara Delevingne (Suicide Squad, Paper Towns, Pan) and Dane Dehaan (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) as the space-and-time-travelling agents Laureline and Valerian. The film will hit Australian screens in August.
‘The Dark Tower’ is a series of sci-fi/fantasy/Western books by master storyteller Stephen King (Hodder). This year, the series will be combined into one epic movie starring Idris Elba as gunslinger Roland Deschain and Matthew McConaughey as Deschain’s nemesis Walter Padick, known as the Man in Black. Look out for The Dark Tower in cinemas in August.
The Dinner (Herman Koch, Text) is thriller that takes place during a meeting between two families whose sons have been involved in a scandal. The adaptation, directed by Oren Moverman, stars Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Steve Coogan. Look out for this adaption in late August.
It (Hodder) is the second Stephen King novel to be adapted in 2017—and it promises to be even freakier than the 1990s miniseries of the same name. The new Pennywise the clown will be played by Bill Skarsgård. It’s due out in Australian cinemas in September.
To the cheers of many kids, there will be a ‘Captain Underpants’ movie coming out this year. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is based on of the popular children’s book series by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic) and stars Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover) as Mr Krupp/Captain Underpants and Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch as George and Harold, the kids who hypnotise their principal into thinking he is an underpants-wearing superhero. The film is directed by David Soren (Madagascar) and will be in cinemas in September.
The Mountain between Us is a romantic drama by Charles Martin (Random House) about two strangers stranded on a snowy mountain after their plane crashes. It stars Kate Winslet as writer Ashley Knox and Idris Elba (who has been quite busy!) as doctor Ben Payne, and will hit Australian cinemas in October.
Wonder is an acclaimed children’s novel by R D Palacio (Random House) about a boy with a serious facial deformity trying to fit in. The film adaptation is being directed by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and Gary Mak. Julia Roberts plays August’s mother and Jacob Tremblay (Room, Extraterrestrial) will play Auggie himself. It’s out in Australia in November.
Murder on the Orient Express is a favourite from Agatha Christie (HarperCollins). This remake, based on the classic 1934 novel, and will be directed by Kenneth Branagh, who will also star as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, alongside Penélope Cruz, Johnny Depp and Daisy Ridley. This remake will arrive in Australian cinemas in late November.
Category: Features
