It’s a new year, and it’s all about books. To be more accurate, 2017 is all about books being turned into movies.
Even though Marvel and Star Wars are the usual highlights for movie-goers, this year there are a handful of book-turned-movies being released. Themes range from a dog being a narrator to a murder on a luxury train.
If you want to be ahead of the curve, here are some of the books you should check out before they hit the big screen along with information about their movie counterparts.
If you’re a fan of tear-jerkers and laughter, ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ by W. Bruce Cameron is the book for you. This story takes you through a dog’s life as he sees himself through the eyes of his humans. The twist here is that Bailey, the dog, gets reincarnated throughout the story. The movie will release in theaters on January 27 and stars Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid and Britt Robertson.
Fans of romance and the Fifty Shades trilogy should be getting excited because ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ is hitting theaters February 10. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, E. L. James’ second novel follows Ana and Christian’s sensual relationship while Ana learns more about Grey’s dark, twisted past. ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ features Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan reprising their roles from ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’
August “Auggie” Pullam was born with a facial difference that meant he couldn’t attend a traditional school, but when it’s time for him to start fifth grade he wants to go to a public school. Classmates struggle to understand and get past his unique difference. ‘Wonder’ by R. J. Palacio begins from Auggie’s perspective and switches to the perspectives of various classmates and family members. These stories converge to show how a community learns about empathy and acceptance. ‘Wonder’ will be in theatres on April 7 starring Owen Wilson, Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay from ‘Room.’
Since everyone loves a good “based on a true story” movie, the nonfiction world will be turning out ‘The Lost City of Z’ by David Grann. This novel documents British explorer Percy Fawcett’s 1925 journey into the Amazon jungle where he searched for a fabled civilization but never returned. Grann, a journalist, takes that knowledge along with his own experiences in the jungle to create an action-packed thriller. The movie version will feature stars Charlie Hunnan and Robert Pattinson alongside Tom Holland (also known as the new Spider-Man.) ‘The Lost City of Z’ will be released April 21.
It looks like 2017 is going to be full of thrillers as ‘The Circle’ makes a suspenseful premier on April 28. Dave Eggers’ novel is about Mae, played by Emma Watson, who gets a new job at The Circle, a powerful internet company that links users’ personal information and social accounts with a universal operating system to create a single online identity. Mae starts out thinking that this is an opportunity of a lifetime, but what starts as a story of ambition turns into one of suspense. Questions are raised about memory, history and the limits of human knowledge. Watson stars alongside Tom Hanks, John Boyega (‘The Force Awakens’) and Karen Gillan (‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’)
While Marvel comics aren’t on this list one other comic is. ‘The Adventures of Captain Underpants’ by Dav Pilkey follows two elementary school kids, George and Harold, as their unique superhero somehow comes to life. ‘Captain Underpants’ features the comic relief of Kevin Hart, Nick Kroll, Kristen Schall and Ed Helms. It will be in theaters June 2.
Fans of outer space and time travel that haven’t read ‘Valerian & Laureline’ better get on it because it will be in theaters on July 21. This novel by Jean-Claude Mezieres and Pierre Christin follows two agents from the 28th century as they try to protect New York and mankind from a rogue time-traveling criminal. From the directors of ‘The Fifth Element’ and ‘Lucy,’ ‘Valerian & Laureline’ stars Cara Delevingne, Ethan Hawke and Dane DeHaan (Harry Osborn from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’)
King of horror, Stephen King, will have two novels coming to theaters this year. The first is ‘The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger.’ Roland Deschain is a gunslinger roaming a landscape that’s reminiscent of the Old West as he looks for a dark tower he believes can save his dying world. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba, ‘The Gunslinger’ will be in theaters July 28.
King’s other novel-turned-movie is ‘It’ which will be making its second appearance on the big screen. This film follows seven adults as they return to their hometown to confront the evil without a name they faced as teenagers. ‘It’ will be in theaters September 8 starring two Netflix show veterans, Bill Skarsgard from ‘Hemlock Grove’ and Finn Wolfhard from ‘Stranger Things.’
The last novel coming to the silver screen this year is from mystery author Agatha Christie. ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is a tale of intrigue. The Orient Express is stopped in its tracks due to a snowstorm in Yugoslavia. The next morning a man is found dead in his train compartment, stabbed a dozen times, with his door still locked from the inside. Luckily enough Belgian detective Hercule Poirot was able to get a last-minute ticket for the train – and this mysterious case. ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ features Daisy Ridley from ‘The Force Awakens,’ Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Josh Gad. The movie will hit theaters November 22.
Whether you’re looking for some mystery, excitement, romance or tears, there are plenty of stories coming to theaters this year. Be the first to catch up on the drama or laughter by hitting up the local library to read all the novels they were based on.
Brittany Fletcher
Designer