Novel adaptations are all the rage in film and television at the moment, with a multi-genre offering of stories due for release this year, springing from the best literary minds in the business including John Wyndham, Joe Hill, Delia Owens, and Kotaro Isaka.
The recent success of book-to-screen adaptations such as the Heartstopper is evidence that the practice is still very much in demand. Whether it's a period romance, a reimagined children's classic, or a supernatural horror there's something to keep everyone's theoretical pages turning.
My Policeman
Set in Brighton in 1957, the plot follows the love triangle between Tom, his wife Marion (Corrin), and the man he truly loves (Dawson). Styles' soring popularity coupled with a growing thirst for period dramas will undoubtedly send audiences flocking to cinemas. Although there is no confirmed release date as of yet, Everett has said that the film can be expected sometime this year.
The Midwich Cuckoos
A 1957 science fiction novel The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham was adapted into the film Village of the Damned in 1960. The story has since been retold numerous times for radio and film, including by horror director John Carpenter in 1995. Now, in 2022, it has been transformed into a television series for Sky Max starring Keeley Hawes.
The events take place in a fictional English Stranger Things, it is sure to spark an interest. A release date for the eight-part series is yet to be confirmed.
The Lost Girls
The Lost Girls by Laurie Fox is an adaptation, or a reimagining, of literature itself, chronicling four generations of women from the Darling family of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. The novel follows Wendy as she tries to break the cycle in which the Darling women fall for Pan and are whisked off to Neverland.
This alternative perspective on the whimsical children's classic will draw in audiences that might otherwise be uninterested in the original. The rising success of star Louis Partridge, who most recently demonstrated his artistic range by portraying the notorious Sid Vicious in Danny Boyle's Pistol, adds greater appeal to the picture. The tale will be brought to the big screen by Livia De Paolis in her film that is due for release on June 17.
The Black Phone
Joe Hill's 2004 short story The Black Phone has been adapted into a feature-length film of the same name. Ethan Hawke stars as The Grabber - a serial killer operating in Colorado in 1978, who abducts a young baseball pitcher named Finney (Mason Thames). The story follows Finny as he tries to escape with the help of the killer's previous deceased victims, whom he communicates with via a disconnected phone.
Horror films and series alike are gradually seeping into the mainstream, with an increasing demand for the genre throughout the year rather than just around Halloween. There is a particular taste for those steeped in nostalgia, in part due to the popularity of IT and Stranger Things, that The Black Phone leans into. The supernatural horror had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in September 2021 and was originally due for theatrical release by Universal Pictures on January 28, but has since been delayed to June 24.
The Terminal List
The New York Times bestselling novel The Terminal List is to be retold as a television series starring Chris Pratt. Penned by Jack Carr, the story centers on Lieutenant Commander James Reece, who becomes wrapped up in a government conspiracy when his entire platoon of Navy SEALs is ambushed and killed.
Pratt plays the vengeful Reece, carrying the character in his quest to find the truth. The actor has been busy recently, with JSuper Mario Bros currently in post-production, among others. This casting will undoubtedly see many viewers tuning into the series, which is due to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on July 1.
Mr. Malcolm's List
Following the successful adaptation of Julia Quinn's novels into Netflix's Bridgeton series, there seems to be a taste for literary period dramas/historical romances in the air. Suzanne Allain has adapted her novel Mr. Malcolm's List for the big screen, telling a familiar tale of arrogant bachelors, head-strong women, and regency romance.
Starring Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as the formidable Mr. Malcolm, whose list consists of qualities that his potential bride must possess, the film itself possesses qualities that are attractive to audiences at the moment, as evidenced by the popularity of Johnathan Bailey's Anthony Bridgerton. Mr. Malcolm's List is due for release on July 1.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
Lesley Manville brings to life Paul Gallico's character in this film adaptation of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Viewers, like readers before them, will follow Ada Harris from London to the French capital in her quest to find an haute couture dress at the House of Dior, after she finds and falls in love with one in the upper-class home where she works as a cleaner.
The period of comedy-drama is set in the 1950s when the original series of novels were first published. Despite taking place at a later point in the 20th century, the film's aesthetic is reminiscent of the Downton Abbey series, which has recently seen a resurgence in popularity with the release of its second movie installment, so Mrs. Harris is bound to be a hit with fans of the series. It was originally due for release earlier this month but has since been rescheduled for release on July 15.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing after reading the novel with her book club. The premise focuses on Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who becomes suspected of the murder of a man that she had once been romantically linked with.
Soundtracked by Taylor Swift, the film is set to be as haunting as the words it has risen from. Given the novel's popularity in its own right, reinforced by its all-star endorsements, promises that this film adaptation will spark interest among fans of the book and unfamiliar cinemagoers alike. It is due for release on July 15 after numerous delays.
Bullet Train
Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson board the Shinkansen for the fast-paced mystery thriller Bullet Train. The film is adapted from the internationally bestselling novel of the same name by Kotaro Isaka, in which five assassins operating onboard Japan's fastest train find that their missions are seemingly connected.
The all-star cast, the novel's best-selling status, and the thrilling plotline are bound to have audiences jumping aboard this ride. The film was set to be released in April but has since been delayed several times. It is currently scheduled for release on August 5 by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Don't Worry Darling
Harry Styles stars in yet another period film due for release later this year, alongside Florence Pugh, Chris Pine, and Gemma Chan. Also set in the 1950s, Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling is not based on a novel, but a speculative screenplay written by Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke.
It is a psychological thriller centered around a young couple who fall in with a mysterious community within their company town. Hype is already building around this feature, given the casting, content, and a creepy trailer suggesting that audiences are in for a sexy, psychological thrill. The film is scheduled for release on September 23 and will later be streamed on HBO Max, setting the mood ready for the fall months.
