Let’s face it, It’s no debate — watching a good film or TV series is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable pastimes. When it comes to a good movie or TV show, we often lose ourselves in the story and break that fourth wall to immerse ourselves in it fully. What you might’ve not noticed, is that some of the most watched, highly acclaimed motion pictures have one thing in common: the story originates from a book.
So why do we enjoy these adaptations so much? Is it because they bring some of literature’s most beloved characters to life, or because they elevate the content of the books into breathtaking retellings? From all-time classics such as The Chronicles of Narnia and Pride and Prejudice to more recent yet equally captivating franchises such as Bridgerton or the Harry Potter films, we can’t help but appreciate the incorporated dynamics and thought behind the stories that we know and love.
Luckily for us, the motion picture industry has picked up a great number of books to turn into films and series coming soon, here’s what's in store, and which adaptations you should watch next.
UP-AND-COMING BOOK ADAPTATIONS:
1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - Coming to Amazon Video (Release date TBD)
If you’re a fan of the trending “Coastal Granddaughter” aesthetic, this one is tailored exactly to you. We Were Liars is a fictional YA (young adult) thriller that takes place off the coast of Massachusetts throughout a series of summers from the point of view of Cadence Sinclair. Cadence has spent all her summers since she was a child at Beachwood Island, which belongs to her “near-perfect” escape, where she could make endless core memories with her best friends without a worry. That is until “summer fifteen” when the story takes a dark turn, and Cadence goes on a trip down memory lane to uncover the truth of what happened that summer.
2. Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riordan - Coming to Disney+ in early 2024.
While the Percy Jackson franchise already explored a film adaptation in the early 2010s, it’s no secret that fans were disappointed with the lack of accuracy to the original story reflected in the movies. Rick Riordan announced in May 2020 that a new Percy Jackson series was in its early stages of development, since then, fans have been thrilled to follow along as a new book-accurate cast has taken on the Greek mythology-inspired fantasy and adventure story, and brought it to life. Here’s the latest teaser:
3. Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – Coming to Amazon Video in 2023.
If you’re a fan of YA romantic fiction, don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about you. Red, White, & Royal Blue features a fan favorite trope, intellectual enemies to lovers. This is a lighthearted LGBTQ+ love story that takes place in an alternate reality in 2016. Fans of the book expressed utmost joy upon finding out that the novel was being adapted into a film. So far, the cast has been revealed to include Taylor Zakhar Perez and Uma Thurman, amongst other notorious cast members. The novel was picked up by Amazon and is expected to be released sometime in 2023.
CAN’T WAIT? HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO HOLD YOU OVER:
Book adaptations are often subject to criticism due to the lack of specificity compared to the original story, however, one thing is certain — these adaptations add their own spark to the story and complement the narrative to the maximum. With loving fans and dedicated authors, the motion picture industry is sure to satisfy the heart of many readers, lucky us!
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