A lot of our favorite movies are based off of books. They’re a great inspiration for filmmakers, as the story and characters are already made for them! While a lot of readers share a sentiment that the book is generally better than the movie, adaptations have had enough success that they’ve still very common in the industry.

I wanted to ruminate a bit on some books I’ve read that I think would translate to a film or TV setting well. I promise there aren’t any Kings in here- I think my two-part King Adaptation posts covered that ground pretty well.

Here are some books/series that I would be delighted to see adapted someday, and which medium I think would work best.

The War Arts Saga by Wesley Chu (TV)

So far we’ve only read The Art of Prophecy in book club, but we were all blown away by the rich worldbuilding and great humor put forth by Wesley Chu. I think, in the martial-arts-as-magic and scholarly setting, we could have some fantastic visuals and action scenes. The story goes on for three books, which would give plenty of plot and content for a multi-season show.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (Film)

This book was like a relaxing day at the beach, except without any sand to get in your pants. I think it would make an adorable animated film. The colorful and memorable cast of characters set against the whimsical backdrop of an orphanage on an island would make for some great art design, and we wouldn’t have to put up with a crappy CGI Theodore (a wyvern) or Chauncey (a green blob of goo). This story is great for all audiences, and I think a younger crowd would be just as enchanted by this found family story as I was.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (Film)

The environment and setting in this book would transfer over great to a horror film. We’ve got ghosts, jumpscares, action, and a little romance. I think this one would be a great popcorn cruncher. Someone get Blumhouse on the line.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (Game)

I think this book’s cozy setting and cute menu-building would translate really well to a video game, specifically a cozy shop sim game, in the vein of TCG Card Shop Simulator or Ale and Tale Tavern. I can see a satisfying mobile game where you run the coffee shop and fulfill customer orders. It could progress just like the book- you start with just coffee on the menu, then as you gain money, you can level up and add croissants and lattes to your menu and upgrade the shop. Maybe every now and then you get a special event where you’ve got to pull out your sword!

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due (Film)

The rich historical setting and eerie moments in this book would translate to a fantastic horror film. I got such a vivid picture of the reformatory itself and all the boys while reading. We could really get some heart-wrenching scenes too, and the dual perspectives would make for some great pacing.

I Might Be In Trouble by Daniel Aleman (Film)

This book literally made me cackle alone in the car. I think it would make a really fun and fresh comedy. It doesn’t fall into one of the overdone comedy tropes, and we would have some great casting potential here. It could be funny and thrilling at once, and it would be refreshing to get a comedy that isn’t an adaptation of a popular kids’ game or toy. Seriously, I’ve had more than enough of those.

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley (TV)

This is some of the best literary fiction I’ve read in a long time, and it touches on areas that are very often ignored in the visual arts industry. The story is harrowing and all-too-real. I think with a great cast picked for their abilities rather than fame combined with a dedicated director could make a great one-season series here. The plot and characters would allow for some really deep exploration of their relationships and struggles. I’d watch it all in one weekend.

The Haar by David Sodergren (Film)

Can you imagine what an arthouse company could do with the moody vibe of this one? A coastal Scottish town on the brink of extinction mixed with a creepy sentient blob of tissue? And boy, the potential for some fantastic gore! Anyone into practical effects would really have a good time with this one.

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BONUS: Things I Hope Don’t Get Adapted

Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

These stories are just so iconic and full of complex magic, plus a lot of interiority, that anyone trying to do an adaptation that wasn’t a 12-season fully accurate series would just not do these stories justice. I think there’s a reason Sandy’s never had anything adapted despite his success; his worlds are just too vivid and detailed to recreate in any sort of meaningful way without losing most of the magic.

The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss

I know there have been rumors and rights deals regarding this iconic story, but I just really don’t want to see it. Pat just did something absolutely insane with this worldbuilding, and I truly believe no visual development could ever capture how these books make us feel and imagine. Please leave Kvothe to my imagination.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

I know there was a Hulu deal for this one a while ago, and believe me when I say I breathed a sigh of relief when it fell through. I just get the feeling that this one would be given the Eragon treatment (please don’t ever bring that movie up around me, I will ask you to leave).

It would need very lush wardrobe and set design, and I fear the producers would want to stress all the sexy stuff instead of the actually interesting worldbuilding these books contain (“I read Playboy for the articles!”). I can just foresee it being done really cheaply and flat with dull characters. They probably wouldn’t even give the Fae pointed ears.

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