Upcoming Book Adaptations To Look Forward To

While vampires, superheroes, and reboots seem to fall in and out of popularity like fashionable clothes, book adaptations seem to be a permanent fixture. As readers we might not always agree with the adapted work or necessarily think we want it–but we kind of always do. At least I do. Setting aside the argument over which is better, the book vs. adaptation, I am always open to see someone create their interpretation/vision in a new medium. I look forward to it. Currently most of the shows still running on the networks original schedule are on hiatus (or canceled) which means the news is coming in for all the upcoming pilots. Plus, we have networks like AMC, Netflix, and USA to join in the race to get the best shows created while not necessarily following any previous formats. The networks might not always seem to focus on creating the same kind of content but book adaptations do seems to be something they all have in common. Here are the ones I’ve spotted, in various stages of development/production, that are *forthcoming in 2016/17 in case you want to add them to your list of shows to keep an eye out for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mFJgpUq3_s Book: The Queen of the South by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Andrew Hurley (translator) Show Title: Queen of the South Network: USA Starring: Alice Braga, Veronica Falcón, Justina Machado, Peter Gadiot, Hemky Madera, Joaquim de Almeida Info: Teresa Mendoza flees Mexico after her boyfriend, a drug dealer, is murdered and it looks like she becomes a Queenpin. (June 23) Book: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty Show Title: The Exorcist Network: FOX Starring: Gina Davis, Ben Daniels, Alfonso Herrera Info: A reboot that will focus on two priest trying to rid a family of demonic possession, modernized. (Fall 2016) While you wait: You might enjoy reading the fun My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix https://youtu.be/8o3Li_K3v2M Book: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare / Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub Show Title: Still Star-Crossed Network: ABC Starring: Lucien Laviscount, Clara Rugaard Info: Ever wonder what happened after the ending of Romeo and Juliet? Well thanks to Shondaland you can now find out. (2017) While you wait: You may enjoy Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure by Ryan North Book: I Love Dick by Chris Kraus Show Title: I Love Dick Network: Amazon Starring: Kathryn Hahn, Kevin Bacon, Roberta Colindrez Info: Transparent creator Jill Soloway’s next Amazon show is based on a not-so-happy marriage and the mutual obsession each has on a professor named Dick.

Book: Are Men Necessary?: When Sexes Collide by Maureen Dowd

Show Title: A Lot Network: HBO Starring: Whitney Cummings, John Ratzenberger Info: Inspired by the book, a successful woman navigates the world of modern relationships highlighting and trying to understand the differences between the sexes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIbGTP4iaC0 Book: based on William Shakespeare Show Title: Will Network: TNT Starring: Laurie Davidson, Olivia DeJonge, Colm Meaney, Mattias Inwood Info: The rise of a young William Shakespeare during 16th century London’s “punk rock theater scene.” Book: The Alienist by Caleb Carr Show Title: The Alienist Network: TNT Info: One of Cary Fukunaga’s (Beast of No Nation / True Detective) current projects seems to be this TNT series set in 1894 N.Y. where a serial killer is being hunted by Theodore Roosevelt who at the time was a police commissioner. Book: The Terror by Dan Simmons Show Title: The Terror Network: AMC Info: A mysterious predator attacks a Royal Naval expedition in 1847–sounds like some historical fiction mixed with science fiction and a good dose of suspense. Book: Legion–David Charles Haller— was first introduced in New Mutants #5 by Chris Claremont and artist Bill Sienkiewicz. Show Title: Legion Network: FX Starring: Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Katie Aselton, Rachel Keller, Amber Midthunder Info: David Haller is the son of Charles Xavier (X-Men founder) and has spent a lot of time in psychiatric facilities after being diagnosed schizophrenic. But after meeting a fellow patient he starts to think maybe the visions/voices aren’t imagined. While you wait: X-Men Legacy – Volume 1: Prodigal by Simon Spurrier, Tan Eng Huat (Illustrator)

Book: I’m Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-Up Comedy’s Golden Era by William Knoedelseder Show Title: I’m Dying Up Here Network: Showtime Starring: RJ Cyler, Andrew Santino, Erik Griffin, Melissa Leo, Ari Graynor, Sebastian Stan, Clark Duke, Stephen Guarino, Brianne Howey Info: A dark comedy set in the famous 1970s Comedy Clubs where many famous comedians careers began. (2016) Book: Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker Show Title: Mindhunter Network: Netflix Starring: Anna Torv, Holt McCallany, Georin Aquila Info: Executive produced by Charlize Theron and David Fincher, Mindhunter follows an FBI agent tasked with tracking down serial killers and rapist.

The Punisher is back. Locked and loaded.https://t.co/nGKCa2taEV

— Netflix (@netflix) April 29, 2016

Book: Punisher Max Complete Collection Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis (Author), Darick Robertson (Illustrator), Lewis Larosa (Illustrator), Leandro Fernandez (Illustrator)   (the character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist John Romita, Sr.) Show Title: The Punisher Network: Netflix Starring: Jon Bernthal Info: Daredevil spinoff where Frank Castle becomes the Punisher after his wife and children are killed. (2017) Book: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Show Title: Thirteen Reasons Why Network: Netflix Starring: Info: The Selena Gomez produced show follows a teen boy who receives cassette tapes from a fellow classmate after she committed suicide explaining why, and those she holds responsible. Book: Model Woman: Eileen Ford and the Business of Beauty by Robert Lacey Show Title: Model Woman Network: ABC Starring: Andie MacDowell, Steven Weber Info: Set in the 1970s it focuses on the character Bertie Geiss, the woman in charge of an international modeling agency. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN4C4Ar5BLo Book: Time After Time by Karl Alexander Show Title: Time After Time Network: ABC Starring: Genesis Rodriguez, Regina Taylor, Freddie Stroma, Josh Bowman Info: A reboot with a cat-and-mouse adventure using the book as a starting point which takes H.G. Wells through time to Manhattan where he’s in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. (2017)

Book: Archie Vol. 1 by Mark Waid, Fiona Staples (Illustrator)(originally created in 1941 by Bob Montana and Vic Bloom) Show Title: Riverdale Network: The CW Starring: Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Ashleigh Murray, Luke Perry, KJ Apa, Madelaine Petsch, Camila Mendes, Marisol Nichols, Mädchen Amick Info: A modern day take on the Archie comics characters “exploring the surrealism of small town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.” (Fall 2016)

Book: (DC Universe: Nothing official yet as to which characters from DC Comics will make appearances.) Show Title: Powerless Network: NBC Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi, Alan Tudyk, Christina Kirk Info: Workers at an America insurance company set in a DC superheroes-and-villains-exist universe. Sounds like the insurance agents are going to have to take the claims of the destruction left in the wake of good vs evil battles. (2017) While you wait: New Super-Man by Gene Luen Yang, Viktor Bogdanovic (Illustrator) ; The Paybacks Volume 1: Payback’s A Bitch by Donny Cates, Eliot Rahal, Neil Gaiman Book: Midnight, Texas by Charlaine Harris Show Title: Midnight, Texas Network: NBC Starring: Sarah Ramos, Dylan Bruce, Arielle Kebbel, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Yul Vazquez Info: With Harris’ other series adaptation being so popular (True Blood) it makes sense that her work would be looked to for another hit. This time around we’re taken to the town Midnight where you can encounter witches, werewolves, vampires, and an angel in a genre mix of romance, horror, and mystery. Book: The Mist by Stephen King, a novella published in Skeleton Crew Show Title: The Mist Network: Spike Info: A small town is riddled with mysterious horror following what appeared to be harmless mist. Book: Purity by Jonathan Franzen Show Title: Purity Network: Showtime Starring: Daniel Craig Info: Limited series based on the novel that will be written by Todd Field with Franzen co-writing. Book: A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket, Brett Helquist (Illustrator) Show Title: A Series Of Unfortunate Events Network: Netflix Starring: Malina Weissman, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton Info: As orphaned siblings try to find out the truth behind their parents death Count Olaf is after their fortune. (August 2016) Book: American Gods by Neil Gaiman Show Title: American Gods Network: Starz Starring: Gillian Anderson, Orlando Jones, Yetide Badaki, Emily Browning, Cloris Leachman, Ian McShane, Ricky Whittle Info: A battle of gods is brewing and an ex-con takes a cross-country trip with a conman (a god) who knows too much about his past. (2017) Book: The Night of the Gun: A reporter investigates the darkest story of his life. His own. by David Carr Show Title: The Night of the Gun Network: AMC Starring: Bob Odenkirk (Saul!) Info: Shawn Ryan (The Shield) is attached to write this six-part miniseries based on Carr’s memoir which he wrote like a journalist (which he was for The New York Times) and fact-checked his life of addiction, single parenting, and getting clean. And in book rights sold to develop into a TV series we have IQ by Joe Ide (Mulholland Books, October 18)- A private detective that takes on the cases the police won’t. Sources: Variety / Deadline/ Hollywood Reporter/ IMDB news *subject to change/get canceled/whatever else the networks suddenly decide to do.