Book-to-Film Adaptation Trailer Insanity

Oh the insanity! This week, trailers for four much-anticipated film adaptations were released, according to GalleyCat.

Let's take a gander at what's in store for the big screen:

1. Gone Girl 
Based on the bestselling thriller by Gillian Flynn
Release date: October 3, 2014

While I struggled to get through this book (I couldn't even finish it, honestly...the characters were all so damn unlikable!), I am interested in what Twentieth Century Fox and director David Fincher do with it. I'm particularly intrigued by the fact that Fincher worked with Flynn to change the ending of the book for the silver screen.


2. If I Stay
Based on the popular YA novel by Gayle Forman
Release date: August 22, 2014

Now, this one I am totally stoked for. I read If I Stay years ago and loved it to pieces. It's one of those books that resonated with me, that made me laugh and cry and beg for more. Its sequel, Where She Went, was good, too, but not nearly as engrossing and powerful as If I Stay. You can bet I'll be one of the first in line to see this baby.


3. Heaven is for Real 
Based on the bestselling Christian novel by Todd Burpo
Release date: April 16, 2014

Though I haven't heard of this book before--and I'm not generally a Christian fiction reader--the cast is pretty stellar. It's also an interesting topic--near death experience--that might be worth checking out. Probably not on the big screen for me, though. Apparently, this flick is "part of Hollywood's push into marketing faith-based films to Christians" (GalleyCat), and I'm curious to see how it does in the box office.

4. X-Men: Days of Future Past
Based on the bestselling comic book series X-Men
Release Date: May 23, 2014

I'll admit it: I've never read any of the comics before. But I have seen all the movies thus far, and I've enjoyed each and every one of them. So, I'm sure I will feel similarly about this one. Especially since one of my favorite actresses, Jennifer Lawrence, has been cast on as Raven/Mystique.

Is DIVERGENT Diverging Its Audience?

As I imagine most of you know, last Friday was opening day of the much-awaited film adaptation of Catching Fire, the second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy. I, of course, was at the front of the line with my friend Kelly that evening to see it. Not only was I stoked for the movie itself, but I also couldn't wait for the previews.

Why? Because I knew they'd show the recently released trailer for Divergent, the first film based on the trilogy of the same name by Veronica Roth.

I adored this series and have been excited for the film from the moment the first actor was cast, making it a sure thing for its production. For me, the preview incited extreme chair bouncing as well as gleeful squees.

But for Kelly, who hasn't read the series (yet!), she wasn't so thrilled. From the slightly confused look on her face I could tell that she didn't quite follow what was going on. And after watching it again when I got home, I could see exactly why: the trailer was relying on the book to snag its audience. It didn't give enough about the story for those peeps who haven't read the books, thus potentially alienating a good portion of its potential audience.

This is actually something I haven't come across in a while, but it does make me wonder how the film will tackle the book as a whole. I have no doubt that I will love the movie, but how will it build the complex and powerful faction-filled world for non-readers? My fingers are crossed that it doesn't follow in the trailers footsteps, as amazing as it is for those of us who have read the books.

Have you read Divergent? What do you think about the trailer? 

More YA Coming to the Silver Screen

Hollywood is really hitting the nail on the head right now with adapting some of my favorite recent YA novels. The next "Hunger Games" flick, Catching Fire, comes out in a few months, Divergent is releasing in 2014, then there's The Fault in Our Stars after that.

But sneaking into the mix now is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. While not as recent as the others I just mentioned, it's still one of my faves. How I didn't know this was in the works is mystifying. Especially since it's releasing in November 15 of this year!

Twentieth Century Fox, the film's production company, has just released the trailer, too. And I've got to say, it looks brilliant. With director Brian Percival at the helm and a cast including Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson, I'm going to definitely be hitting this one up in the theater. The young Sophie Nélisse seems like she's got the role of Liesel down pat, as well. The trailer, in fact, gave me chills.

A Monday Morning Joss Whedon Distraction

Since I last posted, I have been to four different countries, moved to a new state with a totally different lifestyle, and begun a sloooow launch of my new editorial company, Double Vision Editorial. It has been overwhelming to say the least. So, let's just pretend my little disappearance never happened, shall we? :)

Instead, let's all enjoy this new trailer for the incredible Joss Whedon's upcoming adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, posted last week on GalleyCat.

The Avengers director Joss Whedon adapted William Shakespeare‘s comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, as a modern-day retelling. The trailer is embedded above–what do you think? 

A limited release date has been set for June 07, 2013. The film has already screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Glasgow Film Festival. As we previously reported, Whedon shot the entire movie at his own home in 12 days. Here’s more about the film from NPR: 

As I watched Much Ado About Nothing, I had the distinct thought, “I wonder whether this is the future.” Not the future, of course — I don’t believe we’re anywhere close to the end of the blockbuster, nor do I believe we’re necessarily entering a new age of Shakespeare — but a big piece of the future. Big films have gotten so big, expensive films so expensive, that all of the risk has to be drained out of them, which often leaves behind a dried-out version of whatever was originally intended. 

See the original post HERE 

See? Now isnt't that a fun start to your week?

Film Adaptation on Deck for Laini Taylor

While the "Snow White & the Huntsman" director, Rupert Sanders, has been shrouded in bad press the past several months after his affair with actress Kristin Stewart, the producer of the fairy-tale flick, Joe Roth, has been busy prepping some news of his own.

Roth--who also produced "Alice in Wonderland," "While You Were Sleeping," and "Mona Lisa Smile"--just announced that he's optioned the film rights to The Daughter and Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

GalleyCat tells us a little more:

Universal Pictures has acquired the film rights to Laini Taylor‘s young adult novel and National Book Award finalist, Daughter of Smoke & Bone.

Oz: The Great and Powerful executive producer Palak Patel will serve as an executive producer. Snow White & the Huntsman producer Joe Roth has signed on as a producer.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers released this book in 2011. Days of Blood & Starlight, the sequel, came out in November 2012. Taylor plans to conclude her series with a not-yet-titled third book.

See the original post HERE

I read Daughter not too long ago and thought it was entertaining. I had a few issues with it that made me not "love" it,  but I certainly enjoyed it. I do think this one is going to translate very well to the big screen though!

Very excited to see  how they cast this one too...

Avoiding Reality with Spartacus

There is a lot going on in the publishing industry right now: Big-six publishers are implementing new e-only imprints, the Department of Justice is continuing its investigation, more people are suing Apple, etc. etc.It's a dramatic and volatile time. There is much to discuss!

However, I am not going to touch on any of that right now. Because, quite frankly, it is upsetting and makes me a little bit afraid about the future of this business that is my livelihood. Instead, I am going to tell you about something fun, something I am personally very excited about: Kirk Douglas has a book in the works...about the movie SPARTACUS.

The Associated Press fills us in:

At age 95, Kirk Douglas is not too old to give e-books a shot.

The legendary actor has an e-memoir coming out in June.

Titled "I Am Spartacus! Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist," the book tells about the Roman epic that came out in 1960 and helped break Hollywood's ban against suspected Communists.

Douglas, who starred in the "Spartacus" movie and helped produce it, reveals that Dalton Trumbo wrote the screenplay after the blacklisted Trumbo had worked throughout the 1950s under assumed names.

The book includes a foreword by George Clooney. It is being released by Open Road Integrated Media, a digital publisher that announced the deal Monday. An audio edition will be narrated by Douglas' actor-son Michael Douglas.

See the post HERE in the Washington Post

To put it simply: I am stoked about this book. I am a huge fan of SPARTACUS. I watched it for the first time in early high school (or late middle school..I can't quite remember haha), but became obsessed, bought the VHS and proceeded to watch it over and over and over again. Just this past year I tracked it down on DVD so now I can watch it again whenever I so choose. I will still never stop laughing about the scene where Sparty drowns the prison guard in a pot of soup. Ahh, classic.