With only a couple of weeks left of 2023, it’s time to start looking at what the new year will bring, and one of my favourites is book adaptations. This year, we had great series/movie releases such as Daisy Jones and The Six, Red, White & Blue Royal and The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Sonbirds and Snakes, among others.
I know it is always scary when an adaptation is announced since, as readers, we know it can only go one of two ways: it can be what we waited for or highly disappointing. I’m sorry to say there is no middle ground here because the movie/series will be judged against a story already written and loved by the public.
However, the New Year means hope, so we wish the upcoming movie adaptations are as good as the ones we had for 2023.
A List of Books Made into Movies During 2024
1. The Three-Body Problem
Release Date: March 21, 2024
Platform: Netflix
The creators of Game of Thrones bring this popular book series to the screens, in which a secret military project starts sending signals to space to contact aliens. Unfortunately, an alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade the planet. Meanwhile, on earth, groups begin forming, some willing to support the invasion and others who want to fight it.
2. It Ends With Us
Release Date: February 9, 2024
Platform: In Theatres
This bestselling novel has quite a bit of controversy behind its adaptation, but I hope it is better than the set pictures we have seen. The book tells the story of Lily, who starts a relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle; even when this seems like the perfect man, his personality quickly turns dark. Lily’s first love returns to her life when everything seems to be going sideways.
3. Dune: Part-Two
Release Date: March 15, 2024
Platform: In Theatres
The first part of this story, adapted for the big screen by the great filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, returns. A movie planned to be released this year but pushed back due to the strikes in the industry will tell the second part of the science fiction fantasy novel. With many popular names among the cast, this is definitely one movie you’ll want to buy a ticket for.
4. Mickey7
Release Date: March 29, 2024
Platform: In Theatres
The same director of the award-winning picture Parasite brings Mickey7. This story follows a disposable employee on a human expedition that aims to colonize the ice world of Nilfheim. Since this is a dangerous job, Mickey7 is sent as an expendable who is cloned after he gets killed. Generations later, Mickey7 is created and, after a mission, is presumed dead by his crew. In his place, Micky8 is made. However, they don’t know that Mickey7 is still alive.
5. Wicked
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Platform: In Theatres
Yes, you are guessing correctly; we are talking about the same story that inspired the popular Broadway show. Wicked is now being adapted to the big screen to tell the story of the Wicked Witch of the West as she tells her perspective of the Land of Oz. So, if you are a fan of musicals, you want to take advantage of the chance to see a new take on this story.
6. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
Release Date: TBD
Platform: Netflix
A series that has become popular worldwide and only gets better each season returns to tell the story of Colin and Penelope. I must say this is one of my favourite series, and I can’t wait to binge-watch the new episodes. Sadly, we don’t have a release date yet. But we hope to see this in the first half of 2024.
With so many movie adaptations coming out next year, as a book lover, I recommend going to the nearest bookstore and catching up on all these incredible novels before they hit the big or small screen at home.
