Back in February, I posted an article that provided a list of books that have been optioned by various movie studios or influential individuals within the industry for adaptation from the written word to film all in the name of trying to find a successor to The Twilight Saga and the Harry Potter series of novels that launched the worldwide phenomenon.
I am back with more books that are being touted by their respective studios as “the next big thing” – that movie adaptation that will bring wealth to the studios, turn their casts into household names and project the creative team onto even bigger projects in the future.
Here, in no particular order, are more books to film that you can anticipate in the near future:
Beautiful Creatures
Over at Warner Bros. they are hoping the novel series “Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl will do the trick. The novels are set in South Carolina and revolve around Ethan Wate, a high schooler who falls in love with a girl who appears in his dreams. There are currently two books in the planned five-book series on the bookshelves right now – “Beautiful Creatures” and “Beautiful Darkness” with the third book – “Beautiful Chaos” planned for an October 18, 2011 release.
You can learn more about the books here.
The Mortal Instruments
The book series “Mortal Instruments” by Cassandra Clare is being touted by Screen Gems as the hopeful “next big thing” at the box office. The series currently consists of “City of Bones”, “City of Ashes”, “City of Glass” and the recently released “City of Fallen Angels”. There are 6 books planned for the series that follows teenager Clary Fray who discovers she can see supernatural beings that no one else can see, which draws her into the world of the Shadowhunters (teens who kill demons and monsters) and Jace Wayland (one of the Shadowhunters). She also learns that her mother is somehow mysteriously connected to all the strange happenings around her.
The cast already includes new “It” girl Lily Collins (The Blind Side and Priest) as Clary and Jamie Campbell Bower (the TV series Camelot and The Twilight Saga) as Jace.
You can learn more about the books here.
Delirium
Next up is the book “Delirium” by Lauren Oliver, which has been optioned by 20th Century Fox. The book tells the story of Lena Haloway, who lives in a government-managed society in Portland, Maine where her husband and career will be decided once she turns 18 and is cured of deliria (aka love). But, 95 days before her cure, she meets Alex, a confident mysterious young man who makes her heart flutter and her skin turn red-hot. As their romance blossoms, Lena begins to doubt the intentions of those in power, and fears that her world will turn gray should she submit to the procedure. The planed sequel called Pandemonium will be released in March 2012.
You can learn more about the book here.
Pure
Also over at 20th Century Fox, there is the book trilogy “Pure” by Julianna Baggott, which won’t actually be on the bookstands until February 2012. The book chronicles what happens when an apocalyptic event divides the world into two castes – the Pures, who live under a protective dome, and the scarred survivors, who live in an ash-filled wilderness.
You can learn more about the author here.
Divergent
Summit Entertainment – the home of The Twilight Saga – has optioned two different book series. The first is “Divergent” from Veronica Roth and “Warm Bodies” from Isaac Marion.
The Divergent trilogy focuses on Beatrice Prior who lives in a dystopian Chicago where the society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue – Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. A second book in the series is planned for release in May of 2012.
You can learn more about the books here.
Warm Bodies
Meanwhile, “Warm Bodies” is – simply put – The Walking Dead combined with The Twilight Saga. R is a young man with an existential crisis–he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. After experiencing a teenage boy’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim’s human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.
Actor Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy and X-Men: First Class) has been cast in the lead role with a director already on board; but there is no sequel planned by the author.
You can learn more about the book here.
Earthseed
Next is the “Earthseed” trilogy by Pamela Sargent, which has been picked up by Paramount. Here is the official description of the book: Ship hurtles through space. Deep within its core, it carries the seed of humankind. Launched by the people of a dying Earth over a century ago, its mission is to find a habitable world for the children–fifteen-year-old Zoheret and her shipmates–whom it has created from its genetic banks. To Zoheret and her shipmates, Ship has been mother, father, and loving teacher, preparing them for their biggest challenge: to survive on their own, on an uninhabited planet, without Ship’s protection. Now that day is almost upon them…but are they ready to leave Ship? Ship devises a test. And suddenly, instincts that have been latent for over a hundred years take over. Zoheret watches as friends become strangers–and enemies. Can Zoheret and her companions overcome the biggest obstacle to the survival of the human race–themselves?
The other books in the trilogy include “Farseed” and “Seed Seeker”. Melissa Rosenberg, the screenwriter for The Twilight Saga is producing and adapting this “Earthseed” trilogy.
You can learn more about the author here.
Legend
Lastly, there is the book “Legend” by Marie Lu, which has been picked up by CBS Films, but doesn’t hit the bookstands until November of this year. The story takes place in a dark future where North America is split into two warring nations; and focuses on 15-year old June, born into an elite family in one of the wealthiest districts who has been groomed for success in the highest military circles and 15-year old day, who is the most wanted criminal in the country, but his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. They have no reason to cross paths, until June’s brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. After a shocking turn of events, they uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
You can learn more about the book here.
It is anyone’s guess which of these books turned film adaptations or the ones listed here will succeed with the movie-going audience; but did anyone expect The Twilight Saga to take off as it did or anticipate the global domination of Harry Potter? Are you interested in seeing any of these movies when they come out? Or, is there a particular book that you would love to see adapted into a film? Please share.
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