Grab your popcorn, because 2024 is shaping up to be an electrifying year for bookworms and movie buffs alike!
As the literary world collides with the magic of cinema, we’re on the brink of witnessing some of the most sensational book-to-screen adaptations hitting theatres and streaming platforms. From tales that have haunted our dreams to narratives that have sparked conversations for decades, the upcoming adaptations promise to transport us into worlds both familiar and unexplored.
Over the years, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of turning beloved books into cinematic wonders. From J.K. Rowling’s magical Harry Potter, J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic The Lord of the Rings, Stephen King’s spine-chilling The Shining and Gillian Flynn’s tense Gone Girl, there’s no doubt books have birthed some of the most compelling and entertaining movies of the 21st century.
But it’s not just films! In recent years, books (many of which are Reese-Witherspoon approved) have been adapted for TV. From Daisy Jones & The Six to The Last Thing He Told Me, Percy Jackson and The Summer I Turned Pretty.
From heartwarming stories that tug at our emotions to mind-bending thrillers that keep us guessing until the very end, 2024 already has some amazing book-to-screen adaptions lined up.
Dune: Part Two
Release Date: March 14
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Christopher Walken and Barry Keoghan.
This sequel to the 2021 film continues the epic saga from Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune. The storyline focuses on Paul Atreides as he allies with the Fremen inhabitants of Arrakis, the desert planet, in a battle against House Harkonnen.
It Ends With Us
Release Date: August 9
Starring: Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, Justin Baldoni and Jenny Slate
It Ends with Us is a forthcoming American romance film directed by Justin Baldoni and penned by Christy Hall, adapting Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel of the same name. The storyline revolves around complications that surface when a woman’s past high school flame unexpectedly re-enters her life.
Originally, the film was slated for a February 9 release date, but Sony and Columbia Pictures have moved it back to August 9 for a theatrical release.
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Release Date: February 8
Starring: Eric Bana, Sisi Stringer, Anna Torv, Deborra-Lee Furness and Robin McLeavy
Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is an upcoming Australian mystery thriller film based on Jane Harper’s novel. The story follows five women embarking on a remote hiking retreat, yet upon their return, only four survivors emerge, each recounting a different version of events. Detective Aaron Falk is thrust into the investigation, racing against time to unravel the truth behind the mysterious disappearance before it’s too late.
Argylle
Release Date: February 1
Starring: Dua Lipa, Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell and John Cena
Elly Conway, a reclusive spy novelist accustomed to the confines of her home, finds herself unexpectedly entangled in a web of actual espionage when the intricate tales from her novels mirror the operations of a malevolent underground syndicate. Aiden, an undercover spy, arrives claiming to rescue her from imminent danger, thrusting Elly and her cherished feline companion, Alfie, into a covert realm where identities blur and trust is a scarce commodity.
All of Us Strangers
Release Date: January 18
Starring: Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott, Claire Foy and Jamie Bell
All of Us Strangers is a mesmerizing 2023 British romantic fantasy film crafted by writer-director Andrew Haigh, inspired by Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel, Strangers. The story revolves around screenwriter Adam, whose monotonous existence is disrupted by a serendipitous encounter with enigmatic neighbour Harry in their near-deserted London tower block. As their relationship blossoms, Adam is inexplicably drawn back to his childhood abode, where a perplexing phenomenon unfolds: his parents seemingly frozen in time, living as they were on the day they perished three decades earlier.
Mickey17
Release Date: 31 January, 2025
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette and Naomi Ackie
Mickey 17 is a forthcoming American science fiction film penned, directed, and co-produced by Bong Joon-ho, adapted from Edward Ashton’s gripping 2022 novel, Mickey7. Set in the chilling landscape of the ice world Niflheim, the narrative follows a disposable employee dispatched on a daring human expedition aimed at colonizing this harsh environment. Each time one iteration meets demise, a new body is regenerated, carrying forth most of his memories.
Boy Swallows Universe
Release Date: January 11
Starring: Felix Cameron, Travis Fimmel, Sophie Wilde and Phoebe Tonkin
Boy Swallows Universe is a highly anticipated 2024 coming-of-age television limited series set for release on Netflix, adapted from Trent Dalton’s semi-autobiographical novel of identical title. Penned by John Collee, the series centres on Eli Bell, a young boy from a working-class background, who embarks on a courageous journey into Brisbane’s underworld to rescue his mother from imminent danger.
Apples Never Fall
Release Date: March
Starring: Essie Randles, Conor Merrigan Turner, Georgia Flood, Jake Lacy, Sam Neill, Annette Bening and Alison Brie.
Apples Never Fall is an eagerly awaited mystery drama miniseries adapted from Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same title. The story revolves around the seemingly contented Delaney family, but their world is shattered when Joy, the matriarch, vanishes without a trace. As her husband and their four adult children grapple with the sudden and perplexing disappearance, they are compelled to reexamine their family’s intricate history.
The Amateur
Release Date: November 8
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rami Malek, Charles Heller, Rachel Brosnahan and Laurence Fishburne
The Amateur is an upcoming American espionage thriller film helmed by director James Hawes and scripted by Gary Spinelli. Drawing inspiration from Robert Littell’s gripping 1981 novel of identical title, the narrative trails a CIA cryptographer on a relentless quest for justice. After the tragic loss of his wife in London at the hands of a terrorist group, he orchestrates a daring move, coercing the agency into training him for a perilous mission of vengeance.
The Watchers
Release Date: June 7
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré and Siobhan Hewlett
The Watchers is a forthcoming American supernatural horror film, penned and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, adapted from A. M. Shine’s gripping novel of identical title. The story follows 28-year-old artist Mina, stranded within the vast and untamed forests of western Ireland. Seeking refuge, she unwittingly becomes entangled with three strangers, finding themselves ensnared in a chilling predicament: each night, they are relentlessly watched and pursued by enigmatic and ominous creatures.
Turtles All the Way Down
Release Date: 2024
Starring: Cree Cicchino, Felix Mallard, Isabela Merced and Hannah Marks
Turtles All the Way Down is an eagerly anticipated American romantic drama film adapted from John Green’s acclaimed 2017 novel of identical title. At its core is the journey of 16-year-old Aza Holmes, an American high school student grappling with OCD and anxiety. Aza finds herself embroiled in a gripping quest to locate a fugitive billionaire, who intriguingly happens to be the father of a neighbouring acquaintance. Amidst her own emotional turmoil following the loss of her father, Aza discovers an unexpected connection forming with the billionaire’s son. The film delicately explores themes of love, loss, mental health, and the complexities of relationships, painting a poignant portrait of a young woman’s pursuit of truth and healing amidst the trials of adolescence.
Nightbitch
Release Date: December, 2024
Starring:Amy Adams, Ella Tomas and Zoe Chao
Nightbitch, an upcoming American comedy horror film written and directed by Marielle Heller, stars Amy Adams in the lead role and is based on Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel. The story follows an artist who, overwhelmed by loneliness and exhaustion while staying at home with her two-year-old son, begins to experience strange new instincts and appetites, leading to surprising changes in her life.
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