There are a lot of Science Fiction and Fantasy books that are been adapted into TV series or into films and if you wanted to list them all it would take many pages. Recently I read an article about and I decided to select the ones that I am most interested and excited about.
So, in no particular order here they are...
The Witcher
This is adapted into a Netflix TV Series and it's going to air on December 20.
It is adapted from The Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, which was originally published in 2008, from Orbit Books.
What it’s about:
Based on the best-selling fantasy series, The Witcher is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together (description from Netflix). The series also stars Anya Chalotra as enigmatic sorceress Yennefer and Freya Allan as pivotal princess Ciri.
Season 2 has already received a green light.
The Witches
It is adapted into a movie and it's going to premiere in October 2020.
It's adapted from the book The Witches by Roald Dahl, which was originally published in 1983, by Jonathan Cape
What it’s about:
“Would you know a real witch if you saw one? They don’t ride on broomsticks. They don’t wear black capes or pointy hats. In fact, they don’t look like witches at all. But one thing is certain: A real witch is the most dangerous of all living creatures. So you’d better learn to know one when you see one! The young hero of this award-winning story learns that lesson in a hurry when he encounters a whole gruesome gang of them. He’ll need all his wits about him to foil their wicked scheme—a dastardly plot to rid the world of children forever!”
The latest version of the movie will take place in 1960s Alabama rather than 1980s England, and the main character will be a Black American child instead of a white British boy.
The film will be directed by Robert Zemeckis, from a script by Zemeckis and Kenya Barris, and will star Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Rock.
Dune
This is adapted into a film and it's going to premiere in December 2020.
It's adapted from Dune by Frank Herbert, which was originally published in 1965, by Chilton Books
What it’s about:
Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, whose family accepts stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the coveted “spice” in the universe. After a betrayal, Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family’s control over Arrakis.
Legendary Entertainment has reached an agreement with the Frank Herbert estate in which it has acquired the film and television rights to Dune. The agreement calls for the development and production of possible film and TV projects for a global audience. Brian Herbert has confirmed that Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve will helm the project. The cast includes: Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, Zendaya as Chani, David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries, Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh.
Thor: Love and Thunder
This is going to be a film from Marvel Studios and it will premiere on November 2021.
It is adapted from various Thor comics (character created by Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, and Jack Kirby, 1962)
What it’s about:
No specific plot details available yet, but Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) will be taking over the role of Thor, weilding Mjolnir and everything. This may suggest an adaptation of the recent Thor comics run by Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman.
Taika Waititi is back to direct. Waititi will also reprise his role as Korg, starring alongside Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster) and Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie).
Fantastic Beasts 3
It is going to be a film from Warner Bros and it will premiere in November 2021.
It is adapted from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling, which was originally published in 2001, by Bloomsbury (UK) / Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic (U.S.)
What it’s about:
The next installment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, following 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Production is expected to begin in spring 2020.
The Wheel of Time
This is going to be a TV series from Amazon Studios/Sony Pictures Television but the premiere is yet to be determined.
It is adapted from The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, which was originally published in 1990, by Tor Books
What it’s about:
“Set in a sprawling world where magic exists but can only be used by women, the story follows Moiraine, a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization the Aes Sedai, as she embarks on a dangerous journey with five young men and women. Moiraine’s interest in these five lies in the fact that she believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual who prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it.” (The Hollywood Reporter ).
In 2017 came the announcement that Sony Pictures Television would adapt the epic fantasy series alongside Red Eagle Entertainment and Radar Pictures, with Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hemlock Grove, Chuck) serving as showrunner. In mid-2018, Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke confirmed that the streaming service was developing the TV series; later that year, Amazon gave a full series order. Rosamund Pike’s casting as Moiraine was announced on June 19, 2019. More of the cast was announced later in the summer, and since then they’ve shared a group photo and short video of a table read! No word on an official premiere date, but Judkins indicated that the writers are already working on season two.
Artemis
It is adapted into a film by 20th Century Fox.
It'sadapted from Artemis by Andy Weir, which was originally published in 2017, by Crown
What it’s about:
Jasmine Bashara is an occasional smuggler on Artemis, the first and only city on the Moon. But when Jazz gets the chance to commit the perfect crime, she instead stumbles into the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis.
20th Century Fox acquired the movie rights to the novel months before publication. The Martian producers Simon Kinberg and Aditya Sood are onboard for the adaptation, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing. A script has been written by Geneva Robertson-Dworet (late of Captain Marvel and Tomb Raider), and in April 2019 The Observer quoted a casting notice for main character Jazz Bashara that was rumored to be circulating.
The Chronicles of Narnia
It is optioned for film and television by Netflix.
It is adapted from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis and the first book The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was originally published in 1950, by Geoffrey Bles.
What it’s about:
Lewis’ beloved series follows the four Pevensie siblings as they step through an ordinary wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia.
The Mark Gordon Company, Entertainment One (eOne), The C.S. Lewis Company, and Netflix are partnering on various adaptations of all seven books in the series. Coco’s Matthew Aldrich will oversee the production of both series and feature-length adaptations.
Circe
It is optioned for television by HBO Max.
It is adapted from Circe by Madeline Miller, which was originally published in 2018, by Little, Brown and Company
What it’s about:
This reimagining details the life of the witch Circe, a supporting character in The Odyssey, as she is banished to an island in the mortal world, where she harnesses her witchcraft and encounters Daedalus and Icarus, Medea, and of course Odysseus.
HBO Max gave an 8-episode, straight-to-series order for an adaptation from writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who co-wrote and produced 2015’s Jurassic World as well as the most recent Planet of the Apes trilogy.
City of Ghosts
It is optioned for television by The CW.
It is adapted from City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab, which was originally published in 2018, by Scholastic
What it’s about:
After a near-death experience, college grad Cass discovers that she can pull back the Veil between the worlds of the living and the dead—and she’s not the only one with this gift.
I. Marlene King (Pretty Little Liars) will executive produce alongside Lauren Wagner (The Following, Time After Time), Karen Wyscarver, and Sanford Golden (Bones, Time After Time, Taken).
A Darker Shade of Magic
It is optioned for film by G-BASE.
It is adapted from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, which was originally published in 2015, byTor Books
What it’s about:
Traveler-magician Kell’s official job is to deliver correspondence between the parallel Londons, but his unofficial job is smuggling visitors to see the flourishing magic of Red London, or the eerie control of White London (though no one is allowed in Black London). When a thief from boring Grey London robs, saves, and then joins Kell, he discovers the perilous magic at the root of everything.
While the original plans for the adaptation was a limited series along the lines of Game of Thrones, the project changed direction in 2017: Schwab will be a producer on the movie version of the first book, with the other two volumes serving as material for a potential franchise. John Wick screenwrite Derek Kolstad will adapt the books for G-BASE.
The Lord of the Rings
It is optioned for television by Warner Bros. Television/Amazon Studios.
It is adapted from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, which was originally published in 1954, by Allen & Unwin
What it’s about:
According to the press release in late 2017, the series will also explore “new storylines” preceding The Fellowship of the Ring, making this a prequel series… possibly following young Aragorn?
Amazon Studios will adapt the trilogy into an epic fantasy TV series alongside the Tolkien Estate and Trust as well as New Line Cinema. Amazon has made a five-season commitment but must begin production by 2020 per the terms of the deal. Writing duo JD Payne and Patrick McKay (Star Trek 4, Jungle Cruise) will develop the series. In October Deadline reported that the show’s villain Oren, will be played by Joseph Mawle. Mawle will be familiar to fans of epic fantasy from his turn as Uncle Benjen in HBO’s Game of Thrones. And, as the road goes on and ever one, the show has already been renewed for a second season, years before its premiere.
Shadow and Bone
It is optioned for television by Netflix.
It is adapted from Shadow and Bone, from the Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo, which were originally published in 2012, by Macmillan
What it’s about:
Here’s how Deadline describes the series: “In a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness, where unnatural creatures feast on human flesh, a young soldier uncovers a power that might finally unite her country. But as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her. Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at war now, and it will take more than magic to survive.”
Shadow and Bone will combine both the Grisha Trilogy and the Six of Crows duology into one TV series. Eric Heisserer (Bird Box, Arrival) will serve as creator, writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Bardugo will also be an EP alongside Pouya Shahbazian (the Divergent series) and Shawn Levy (Stranger Things) of production company 21 Laps Entertainment. In October the first round of casting was announced with Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov, Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev, Amita Suman as Inej, Kit Young as Jesper Fahey, Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker, and, Ben Barnes as the Darkling.
What do you think? Which one do you anticipate the most?
For me it The Darker Shades of Magic for sure!!
Athina
As a disclaimer the majority of the information is from Tor and if you want a bigger list of adaptations you can visit their site for it.
