10 Book-To-Film Adaptations To Look Out For In 2012
March 20th, 2012 11:00am EDT
2012 is shaping up to be a very literate year in motion pictures. Over 30 films on the release schedule are based on books, short stories or comic books. Below are 10 of the most notable.
1. BEING FLYNN
Based on: Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn
Basic plot: A guy who works at a homeless shelter finds his estranged, alcoholic, deadbeat dad wandering in one night.
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Paul Dano, Julianne Moore
Director: Paul Weitz
Why it’ll make you thankful: I’m guessing your father isn’t in a homeless shelter…
Release date: March
2. THE HUNGER GAMES
Based on: Suzanne Collins’ bestseller
Basic plot: Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her little sister’s place in the Hunger Games, an annual to-the-death competition between teens of dystopic country Panem.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Director: Gary Ross of “Seabiscuit” fame
Why it’ll be disappointing: No one could possibly make all those fans happy!
Release date: March
3. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING
Based on: The popular birth manual
Basic plot: The lives of five couples intertwine before, during and after childbirth.
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Matthew Morrison
Director: Kirk Jones
Why it’ll be better than you think: The opportunity to see some of Hollywood’s hottest ladies in maternity pants instead of skinny jeans should be well-worth the price of admission.
Release date: May
4. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN
Based on: The fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
Basic plot: A twist on the traditional narrative, in this version, Snow White is transformed into a butt-kicking machine by the huntsman hired to kill her.
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron
Director: Rupert Sanders
Why it’ll be WAY better than the similar “Mirror, Mirror”: Look no further than the evil queen smackdown: the ultra-scary Charlize Theron vs. a pathetically daft Julia Roberts.
Release date: June
5. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER
Based on: Book by Seth Grahame-Smithe
Basic plot: Our 16th president faces down vampires (Confederate and otherwise) while climbing the American political ranks.
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Why it’ll be fun: Seeing Honest Abe deliver some honest kick-ass may be the highlight of this election year. Also, the director made “Wanted.”
Release date: June
6. WETTEST COUNTY
Based on: The novel The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant
Basic plot: Three brothers struggle through the Great Depression by hocking moonshine.
Starring: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce
Director: John Hillcoat
Why it’ll be terrific: Great cast, intriguing story, hot Australian director – this movie’s got it all.
Release date: August
7. TOTAL RECALL
Based on: Philip K. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale”
Basic plot: After a construction worker opts to have a “virtual vacation” implanted in his memory, he begins to doubt his sanity and the world around him. (Yes, it’s a remake of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.)
Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel
Director: Len Wiseman
Why it’ll be yummy eye candy: Check out that cast!
Release date: August
8. THE HOBBIT
Based on: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Basic plot: Hobbit Bilbo Baggins sets out to reclaim a treasure stolen by the dragon Smaug, assisted by a band of dwarves.
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian Holm, Cate Blanchett
Director: Peter Jackson
Why it’ll be good, but uninspired: The movie looks like “The Lord of the Rings.” EXACTLY like “The Lord of the Rings.” (Suggestion: Rewatch “The Lord of the Rings.”)
Release date: Mid-December
9. WORLD WAR Z
Based on: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
Basic plot: A United Nations agent gathers first-person stories of a worldwide Zombie outbreak that spiraled out of control.
Starring: Brad Pitt, David Morse, Mirielle Enos
Director: Marc Forster
Why it’ll be AWESOME: Brad Pitt’s doing a Zombie movie!
Release Date: Christmas
10. THE GREAT GATSBY
Based on: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic
Basic plot: Nick Carraway encounters the mysterious Jay Gatsby while visiting vapid cousin Daisy on the North Shore of Long Island. Drama, tragedy and brilliance ensue.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Why it won’t be as good as it should be: Adaptations of this particular novel never are.
Release date: Christmas
Katie Fetting-Schlerf is a freelance writer from Seattle, WA. When not downing popcorn at her local movie theater, she blogs on a variety of topics, including literature, dating and jeans.
Related: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Baz Luhrmann, Being Flynn, Benjamin Walker, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Carey Mulligan, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Colin Farrell, David Morse, Dominic Cooper, Gary Ross, Guy Pearce, Ian Holm, Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Biel, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Moore, Kate Beckinsale, Kristen Stewart, Len Wiseman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Liam Hemsworth, Marc Forster, Martin Freeman, Matthew Morrison, Paul Dano, Paul Weitz, Peter Jackson, Robert De Niro, Rufus Sewell, Shia LaBeouf, Snow White and the Huntsman, Suzanne Collins, The Great Gatsby, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hunger Games, The Wettest Country, Tobey Maguire, Tom Hardy, Total Recall 2012, What to Expect When You're Expecting, World War Z, Starpulse Exclusives, Movies, Box Office
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Photo Credits: Focus Features, Paramount Studios, Universal Studios, Fox Studios, Warner Bros. Studios
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