From children's classics to fairytale backstories, dramatic thrillers to inspiring biographies, books have always been source material for some of our greatest and most cherished films. Stories can live on the page and in our minds, but there's nothing quite like seeing them come to life before your eyes. Here are some of the titles we can't wait to see in theaters this year and beyond.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
After a horrific family tragedy, a young boy named Jacob is sent to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As he explores, he begins to realize that the past young residents of the home were not only strange, they may have been dangerous--and they might still be alive. We're thrilled that director Tim Burton is bringing this inventive tale to the big screen. In theaters now.
The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers
One day in 2005, 9-year-old Ugandan Phiona Mutesi met a man who would change her life. Robert Katende, a war-refugee-turned-missionary, had a dream to empower local children through the game of chess, and Phiona soon proved herself to be an undeniable talent. This remarkable true story follows her as she rises through the ranks and seeks to reach the highest levels of the game. Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo star. In theaters now.
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Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
Part satire, part political commentary, Ben Fountain's debut has been called "Catch-22 for the Iraq War." Coming to the big screen in an adaptation by Oscar-winning director Ang Lee, it follows a young man named Billy Lynn and the surviving members of his Bravo Squad as they are shuffled through a day's worth of events on their "Victory Tour" at the Texas Stadium. In theaters November 11, 2016.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
Perhaps the most anticipated film of 2016, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter backstory features the wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he travels to 1920s New York. Everything is going swimmingly, until Scamander's suitcase--which contains a number of dangerous magical creatures and their habitats (indexed in his textbook Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them)--pops open and the state of the non-magical world is threatened. In theaters November 18, 2016.
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
For almost a decade, Stephen King fans have been yearning to see this epic series on the big screen, and they'll finally get their wish with this adaptation, starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. It tells the story of the fallen land of Mid-World, through the eyes of a knight whose primary mission is to save his decaying world by reaching the titular tower that stands at the intersection of time and space. This mix of horror, western, and sci-fi will be a must-see. In theaters February 17, 2017.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The year is 2044, and the world isn't a great place. So, when the multi-billionaire creator of a virtual world dies, he hides his entire fortune somewhere within his creation to spark the largest treasure hunt the world has ever known. Whoever gets to it first wins it all. If you grew up playing video games, this one is for you, and we're sure the adaptation--directed by Stephen Spielberg--will be worth the wait. In theaters March 30, 2017.
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The Circle by Dave Eggers
Mae Holland (played by Emma Watson) is an ambitious young woman hired by the Circle, the world's most powerful internet company, which is pioneering a new age of transparency. But as Mae moves deeper into the group culture, her enthusiasm is tested as she begins to face all-too-familiar questions of privacy, history, democracy, and human knowledge. In theaters April 28, 2017.
Read the review here
See the full list at Off the Shelf, a daily blog that connects great readers with great books.
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