From a remake of a Stephen King adaptation to a live-action adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale of a boy who wouldn’t grow up, find a list of some upcoming films that are based on books below –
Books help us envision a fantasy land with mystical creatures, a dystopian world, a love story, tales set within different eras we may have not even witnessed. They connect us to different cultures, settings, places, and people. Bringing these words and imaginations to the big screens or the small ones in our homes and pockets is the television and film industry.
Over the years, weâve seen many television series and film adaptations that have been wonderful, whether from comics, coming-of-age novels, or stories from bestselling authors. However, due to the increasing rise of streaming platforms, there is an influx of TV series and film adaptations from books. Weâve rounded up a list of upcoming titles to check out –
The Black PhoneÂ
Based on: The Black Phone by Joe Hill
Releases on: June 24 (Theatres)
What It Is About: This film is a Blumhouse Production (âGet Outâ, âThe Invisible Manâ), which follows Finney Shaw, who is a shy but clever 13-year-old boy. He is abducted by a sadistic and infamous child killer – The Grabber. The killer traps the boy in a soundproof basement. There, screaming is of little use. A disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring and Shaw discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims who are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.
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At the same time, Finney’s sister Gwen (played by Madeleine McGraw) starts having dreams about him. They include details that aren’t public knowledge, and Gwen begins cooperating with police in order to track down Finney and The Grabber. She does this to save her brother and end this serial killer’s run.
Cast: Ethan Hawke (âMoon Knightâ, âBoyhoodâ), Mason Thames (âFor All Mankindâ), Madeleine McGraw (âToy Story 4â), James Ransome (âSinisterâ, âIt Chapter Twoâ), Jeremy Davies (âLostâ).
Salemâs Lot – Stephen King
Alfre Woodard has been cast as Dr. Cody in the live-action adaption of Stephen Kingâs âSALEMâS LOTâ.
(Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/y0hYyy9DER
â DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 2, 2021
Based on: Salemâs Lot by Stephen King
Releases on: September 9 (Theaters)
What It Is About: Gary Dauberman has helmed the âSalemâs Lotâ remake and is the screenwriter for the Stephen King adaptation. Dauberman has been successful in the horror genre as he has written films within the âConjuringâ universe as well as co-written âItâ and âIt: Chapter Twoâ based on Stephen Kingâs critically acclaimed 1986 novel.
âSalemâs Lotâ first debuted as a two-night TV miniseries on CBS in 1979. It was based on the 1975 novel by King, with 2004 seeing a two-part American TV miniseries starring Rob Lowe. This miniseries attempted to recreate the original but didnât achieve similar success.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the 2022 âSalemâs Lotâ, just like the novel and the television miniseries, follows Ben Mears. He is a successful author who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot to write a new book and plans to borrow inspiration from the old Marsten House. It is a local estate with a deeply haunted past, and unbeknownst to the author, the eerie fictional Maine town is swirling with dark secrets.
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Upon his return, Mears realizes that the Marsten House has been bought by Richard Straker. Straker is a reserved man with a clear purpose. He wants to open an antique shop with his business partner, Kurt Barlow. Richard Strakerâs partner is consistently absent. Furthermore, Ben realizes that townspeople are disappearing and returning as creatures of the undead.
Cast: Lewis Pullman (âBad Times at the El Royaleâ) as Ben Mears, William Sadler (âPowerâ, âThe Shawshank Redemptionâ, âThe Green Mileâ) vampire Kurt Barlow, Makenzie Leigh (âJames Whiteâ, âThe Assistantâ) as Benâs love interest Susan Norton, Alfre Woodard (âClemencyâ, âLuke Cageâ) as Dr. Cody, Bill Camp (âThe Night Ofâ, âDark Watersâ) as teacher Matthew Burke, Spencer Treat Clark (âGladiatorâ, âAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.â, âChilling Adventures of Sabrinaâ) as Mike Ryerson, with Pilou AsbĂŚk (âBorgenâ) as the mysterious Richard Straker.
White Bird: A Wonder Story
We are excited to announce that White Bird: A Wonder Story will be in theaters on September 16, 2022! pic.twitter.com/fK5T337MPn
â Wonder The Movie (@WonderTheMovie) May 26, 2021
Based on: White Bird: A Wonder Story – R.J. Palacio
Releases on: October 2022 (Theaters)
What It Is About: Directed by Marc Forster (âFinding Neverlandâ, âChristopher Robinâ), this film is based on R.J. Palacio’s book, âWhite Birdâ. Similar to âWonderâ, the 2022 film is an emotional story. It is about how even in the most harrowing circumstances, empathy for others can make every difference in the world. In âWhite Bird: A Wonder Storyâ, kindness even has the power to save lives. It sees Julian Albans, the bully who left Beecher Prep, being visited by his Grandmère from Paris.
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He is transformed by her remarkable story of compassion and courage wherein, as a girl in Nazi-occupied France, the young Grandmère goes into hiding with the help of a schoolmate. A young man risks everything to give her the chance to survive. Together, they find beauty and love in the secret world of their own creation.
Cast: Helen Mirren (âThe Queenâ) as Grandmère, Gillian Anderson (âThe X-Filesâ, âSex Educationâ, âThe Crownâ) as Vivienne, Bryce Ghelsar (âA Dogâs Purposeâ, âWonderâ) as Julian Albans, Orlando Schwerdt (âTrue History of the Kelly Gangâ) as Julien, Ariella Graser (âRadioactiveâ) as young Sara.
Blonde
Thierry Fremaux says BLONDE starring Ana de Armas is Netflixâs âbig film this yearâ and that Netflix refused to screen it out of competition at Cannes: âItâs a wonderful film which deserves the competition. So I do understand Netflix.â
(https://t.co/2884PuAh8B) pic.twitter.com/Uw9SNwGIcl
â Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) April 14, 2022
Based on: Blonde – Joyce Carol Oates
Releases on: Netflix in 2022
What It Is About: This Marilyn Monroe movie has received a rarely given out adults-only rating. The Netflix film has been directed by Andrew Dominik, who also helmed âThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordâ and âChopperâ.
Cast: Ana de Armas (âKnives Outâ, âNo Time to Dieâ) as Marilyn Monroe, Adrien Brody (âThe Pianistâ, âPeaky Blindersâ) as Arthur Miller, Sara Paxton (âThe Last House on the Leftâ) as Miss Flynn, Julianne Nicholson (âMare of Easttownâ) as Gladys, Rebecca Wisocky (âDopesickâ, âThe Mentalistâ) as Yvet.
Peter Pan & Wendy
David Lowery says his live-action ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ movie is inspired by ‘The Lighthouse’
He pitched it to Disney as “The Revenant with flying kids” pic.twitter.com/b8hWYe3USZ
â Culture Crave đż (@CultureCrave) August 18, 2021
Based on: Â Peter Pan – J. M. Barrie
Releases on: Disney+ 2022
What It Is About: âPeter Pan & Wendyâ is a live-action adaptation of J. M. Barrie’s classic tale of a boy who wouldn’t grow up. He recruits three young siblings in London to join him on a magical adventure to the enchanted Neverland island in a Disney+ film directed by David Lowery, whose previous works include the Dev Patel starrer âThe Green Knightâ and âPeteâs Dragonâ.
Cast: Ever Gabo Anderson (âBlack Widowâ) as Wendy Darling, Alexander Molony (âThe Reluctant Landlordâ) as Peter Pan, Yara Shahidi (âgrown-ishâ, âblack-ishâ) as Tinker Bell, Jude Law (âSherlock Holmesâ, âThe Holidayâ) as Captain Hook, Jim Gaffigan (âLucaâ) as Smee, Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily.
Persuasion
Based on: Persuasion – Jane Austen
Releases on: Netflix in 2022
What It Is About: In her film directorial debut, Carrie Cracknell is helming Netflixâs âPersuasionâ, which is based on the last book Jane Austen completed before her death. âAnne Elliot is considered to be kind, intelligent, and attractive, but not the âbeautyâ among her sisters,â states Decider. She falls in love with a lowly naval officer at the age of nineteen. However, her mentor Lady Russell persuades Anne to break off the engagement.
Russell assumes a better match will be easily made but eight years later, a 27-year-old Anne is still single. She is still pining after her Wentworth. When her long-lost love re-enters her life as a catch, he is none too excited to see the woman who broke his heart again.
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Netflixâs description of the film states: âLiving with her snobby family on the brink of bankruptcy, Anne Elliot is an unconforming woman with modern sensibilities. When Frederick Wentworthâthe dashing one she once sent awayâcrashes back into her life, Anne must choose between putting the past behind her or listening to her heart when it comes to second chances. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel. The film takes a modern, witty approach to a beloved story while still remaining true to Jane Austenâs classic novel,â as per Decider.
Cast: Dakota Johnson (âFifty Shades of Greyâ, âThe Lost Daughterâ) as Anne, Henry Golding (âCrazy Rich Asiansâ, âLast Christmasâ) as Mr. Elliot, Cosmo Jarvis (âCalm With Horsesâ, âLady Macbethâ) as Captain Frederick Wentworth.
White Noise
Don Cheadle has been cast alongside Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig and Jodie Turner-Smith in Noah Baumbachâs âWHITE NOISEâ for Netflix.
(Source: @Variety) pic.twitter.com/IZ5eUxh9Le
â DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 11, 2021
Based on: White Noise by Don DeLillo
Releases on: Netflix in 2022
What It Is About: Passage Pictures is one of the production companies behind the film âWhite Noiseâ, which is based on Don DeLillo’s famous postmodern novel. It has released a synopsis: âAt once hilarious and horrifying, White Noise dramatizes a contemporary American family’s attempt to deal with the mundane conflicts of day-to-day life while grappling with the larger philosophical issues of love, death, and the possibility of happiness in an uncertain world,â according to Movie Web.
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It is a subtly satirical story about a professor of “Hitler studies” at a liberal arts college in Middle America and his fourth wife, wherein the couple must face their crippling fear of death. This happens when an “airborne toxic eventâ from a chemical spill creates potentially lethal clouds leading the cynically ruminative academic to gather up his four precocious children and sarcastic wife. Then, they head through endless traffic to some kind of barely-possible safety in this black comedy. The film is directed by Noah Baumbach (âMarriage Storyâ).
Cast: Adam Driver (âMarriage Storyâ, âThe Last Duelâ) as Jack Gladney, Greta Gerwig (âLittle Womenâ, âLady Birdâ) as Babette Gladney, Raffey Cassidy as Debbie, Don Cheadle (âHotel Rwandaâ, âIron Manâ) as Murray, Jodie Turner-Smith (âAfter Yangâ, âQueen & Slimâ), Alessandro Nivola (âThe Many Saints of Newarkâ, âJurassic Park IIIâ).
Pinocchio
Based on: Pinocchio – Carlo Collodi
Releases on: Netflix in December 2022
What It Is About: Guillermo del Toro (âThe Shape of Waterâ, âNightmare Alleyâ) is helming Netflixâs musical adaptation of âPinocchioâ. It is set in Italy during the 1930s, a time when fascism is on the rise. Benito Mussolini is consolidating control of the country in the film.
âNo art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio,â del Toro said in a statement when the film was greenlit in 2018, as per Variety. âIn our story, Pinocchio is an innocent soul with an uncaring father who gets lost in a world he cannot comprehend. He embarks on an extraordinary journey that leaves him with a deep understanding of his father and the real world. Iâve wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember.â
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Cast: Gregory Mann as Pinocchio, Finn Wolfhard (âStranger Thingsâ, âItâ), Ewan McGregor (âHalstonâ, âFargoâ), Tilda Swinton (âDoctor Strangeâ, âSuspiriaâ) as The Fairy with Turquoise Hair, Cate Blanchett (âNightmare Alleyâ, âThor: Ragnarokâ) as Sprezzatura the Monkey, David Bradley (âGame of Thronesâ) as Geppetto, Christoph Waltz (âDjango Unchainedâ, âAlita: Battle Angelâ) as the Fox, John Turturro (âSeveranceâ, âThe Batmanâ) as Maitre Cherry.
First look at Disneyâs live-action âPINOCCHIOâ film, starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto. pic.twitter.com/lZ2c9jiMTx
â DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 9, 2022
In addition to this, âPinocchioâ will see two upcoming films based on the book. A live-action film will be released on Netflix and another one titled âPinocchio: A True Storyâ will premiere on Lionsgate Play.
The Wonder
âThe Wonderâ: First Look At Florence Pugh In Netflix Period Thriller Filming In Ireland; Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, Toby Jones, More Join https://t.co/9hSFmjdUVE
â Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 12, 2021
Based on: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
Releases on: Netflix in 2022
What It Is About: A psychological thriller inspired by the 19th-century phenomenon of the âfasting girls,â âThe Wonderâ is set in the Irish Midlands in 1862, according to Variety. It follows 11-year-old Anna OâDonnell and an English nurse Lib Wright. OâDonnell stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. Wright is brought to her tiny village to observe, wherein tourists and pilgrims amass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months.
Cast: Florence Pugh (âBlack Widowâ, âLittle Womenâ, âMidsommarâ) as Lib Wright, CiarĂĄn Hinds (âBelfastâ, âGame of Thronesâ), Toby Jones (âDetectoristsâ, âMarvellousâ), Tom Burke (âStrikeâ, âThe Musketeersâ), Niamh Algar (âRaised by Wolvesâ), Elaine Cassidy (âFingersmithâ), Dermot Crowley (âFalling for a Dancerâ), BrĂan F. OâByrne (âLittle Boy Blueâ).