Every Single Book to Movie Adaptation in 2020
“Dolittle” Release Date: January 17, 2020 [U.S.]
Doctor Dolittle’s been adapted into a musical film starring Rex Harrison and a comedy franchise with Eddie Murphy. Now Robert Downey Jr will follow-up his tenure as Tony Stark as the doctor who can talk to animals. The latest version primarily borrows from “The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle,” sending Hugh Lofting’s famed literary character across the high seas to a mysterious island. The adventure angle should provide a fresh take for audiences. Think “Sherlock Holmes” meets “Life of Pi.”
“The Turning” Release Date: January 24, 2020 [U.S.]
This adaption brings Henry James’ 1898 novella into the 21st century. Mackenzie Davis from “Tully” finds herself playing another nanny who must look after two eerie orphans, played by Brooklynn Prince of “The Florida Project” and Finn Wolfhard of “It.” Executive producer Steven Spielberg has been interested in revisiting the horror genre for a while, making “The Turning” a passion project for him. The film should be a fun throwback to Spielberg’s previous horror efforts, like “Poltergeist” and “Arachnophobia.”
“The Rhythm Section” Release Date: January 31, 2020 [U.S.]
Time will only tell if we ever see a female James Bond, but EON Productions is experimenting with a similar idea in “The Rhythm Section.” Stephanie Patrick was intended to be on a plane that crashed with her family. Three years later, Stephanie learns that the crash was no accident, setting out in search of retribution. This premise made for a page-turning novel by Mark Burnell and it has the potential to be an equally thrilling movie starring Blake Lively.
“To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” Release Date: February 12, 2020 [U.S.]
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“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” proved to be a breakout success for Netflix, guaranteeing we wouldn’t have to wait long until author Jenny Han’s sequel got the screen treatment. The past once again comes back to haunt Lara Jean in the form of her former crush John Ambrose McClaren, played by Jordan Fisher. A third film has reportedly already started shooting, which means there will be plenty to love even further down the line.
“The Call of the Wild” Release Date: February 21, 2020 [U.S.]
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Director Chris Sanders of “Lilo & Stich” and “How to Train Your Dragon” helms the latest adaptation of Jack London’s 1903 novel. The film centers on a dog who’s taken from his California home and forced to survive in the brutally cold Canadian wilderness. Sanders mixes CGI animals with live-action actors in a cast that features Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, and Karen Gillan. If you’re in the mood for an underdog vs wild story, be sure to answer the call.
“The Invisible Man” Release Date: February 28, 2020 [U.S.]
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The Dark Universe may be six feet under, but “The Invisible Man” has been resurrected by Blumhouse. H.G. Wells’ novel is getting a timely update, focusing on a woman played by Elisabeth Moss who inherits her abusive ex’s fortune. As strange things start occurring, though, she begins to suspect that he’s not only alive, but also somehow turned himself invisible. This setup has the potential to blur the lines between the supernatural and the psychological, reinventing a classic.
“Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” Release Date: April 3, 2020 [U.S.]
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Hide your carrot stash because Peter Rabbit’s hopping back into theaters. James Corden once again voices Peter in this sequel to the 2018 film, which was based on Beatrix Potter’s books. Fed up with playing by the rules, the rebel rabbit without a cause sets out on his own, learning more about his father along the way. Most of the first film’s principal cast returns, but we’re still waiting for Olivia Colman to sign on for one of these movies.
“Fatherhood” Release Date: April 3, 2020 [U.S.]
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Following 2017’s “The Upside,” Kevin Hart will continue to stretch his dramatic muscles in an adaptation of Matthew Logelin’s memoir, “Two Kisses for Maddy.” Logelin started writing his book and blog as a way of coping with the loss of his wife, who passed shortly after giving birth to their daughter. The film is being directed and co-written by Paul Weitz, who seems well-suited for this material given his previous credits, which include “About a Boy” and “Grandma.”
“The Secret Garden” Release Date: April 17, 2020 [U.S.]
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden” is one of the greatest children’s novels ever written. This story of the orphaned Mary and her life-changing experiences in a fantastic garden has been brought to the screen a few times already, most notably in 1993 with Maggie Smith. Writer Jack Thorne is no stranger to adapting beloved literary works, having scribed “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and the television version of “His Dark Materials,” making him tailor-made for this project.
“Greyhound” Release Date: May 8, 2020 [U.S.]
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Tom Hanks has already played a WWII captain in “Saving Private Ryan” and Captain Richard Phillips. So, he was a natural choice to play Commander Ernest Krause in this adaptation of C.S. Forester’s 1955 war novel, “The Good Shepherd.” “Greyhound” finds our protagonist and his Destroyer ship thrust into the Battle of the Atlantic, although the real battle is the one waging within himself. The captain behind the camera is Aaron Schneider, who directed the Oscar-winning short film, “Two Soldiers.”
“The Woman in the Window” Release Date: May 15, 2020 [U.S.]
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We’d be surprised if author Dan Mallory, aka A.J. Finn, wasn’t influenced by Alfred Hitchcock when he wrote the 2018 thriller novel “The Woman in the Window.” In the same vein of “Rear Window,” this mystery focuses on a nosy neighbor, played here by Amy Adams, who bears witness to a crime. Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, and Brian Tyree Henry round out a killer supporting cast with director Joe Wright lending his expert lens to the project.
“Artemis Fowl” Release Date: May 29, 2020 [U.S.]
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A film adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s best-selling novel has been in the pipelines for nearly two decades. It’s no surprise that “Artemis Fowl” has had such a lengthy journey to the cinema, as many have described the books as unfilmable. With a visionary director like Kenneth Branagh and an entertainment giant like Disney, however, this could be the beginning of the next massive film franchise, as well as a star-making turn for Ferdia Shaw as the young millionaire criminal mastermind.
“Fear Street” Release Date: June 2020 [U.S.]
The “Fear Street” books allowed author R.L. Stine to take the scares to another level. Although the “Ghosts of Fear Street” TV pilot never materialized into a series, the franchise is getting a second shot with a feature film, which could commence a trilogy. Much like how 2017’s “It” took place in the 80s, this film will take us back to the 90s when shows like “Are You Afraid of the Dark” and “Goosebumps” ruled the airwaves.
“The One and Only Ivan” Release Date: August 14, 2020 [U.S.]
Disney’s producing this adaptation of K.A. Applegate’s Newbery Medal’s children’s novel about a captive gorilla named Ivan, whose worldview is forever changed after a baby elephant named Ruby enters his life. In addition to Bryan Cranston as a circus owner, the film assembles an all-star voice cast with Sam Rockwell as Ivan, Brooklynn Prince as Ruby, and Angelina Jolie as an older elephant named Stella. Plus, Danny DeVito’s voicing a dog for the first time since “Look Who's Talking Now.”
“Without Remorse” Release Date: September 18, 2020 [U.S.]
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When people think of movies based on the works of Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan is usually the first name that comes to mind. Although “Without Remorse” takes place in the same universe, the focus is shifted from Mr. Ryan to John Clark. The book functioned as an origin story for Clark, who will be portrayed by Michael B. Jordan in this adaptation. The plot finds Clark using his resources as a CIA operative and ex-Navy SEAL to avenge his girlfriend.
“Death on the Nile” Release Date: October 9, 2020 [U.S.]
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Kenneth Branagh has certainly been keeping busy lately, as he not only directed “Artemis Fowl,” but this sequel to “Murder on the Orient Express” as well. Branagh also once again stars as detective Hercule Poirot, although he’s far from the only big name attached. Annette Being, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Russell Brand, and Gal Gadot are just some of the other celebs tied up in this classic Agatha Christie mystery. Of course, the real star is the Egyptian setting.
“The Witches” Release Date: October 9, 2020 [U.S.]
Although it came out in 1990, Nicolas Roeg’s adaptation of “The Witches” truly felt like the last of the creepy kids’ movies that defined the 80s. Hopefully director Robert Zemeckis and producer Guillermo del Toro can bring out that same sense of terror and whimsy in their version. They could also potentially remain more faithful to the bittersweet ending of Roald Dahl’s children’s book. In any case, Anne Hathaway is an ideal choice to play the two-faced Grand High Witch.
“Dune” Release Date: December 18, 2020 [U.S.]
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If there’s one book that deserves another chance at the silver screen, it’s “Dune.” While the 1984 version has its fans, there’s a reason why even director David Lynch considered the film a failure. Who better to tackle Frank Herbert’s epic novel than Denis Villeneuve, who’s given us modern sci-fi classics like “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049?” With Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac also onboard, we have every confidence that this adaptation will find “the spice.”
“Chaos Walking” (2020) Release Date: TBA 2020
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Starting with “The Knife of Never Letting Go” in 2008, Patrick Ness’s “Chaos Walking” trilogy received universal praise. With a director like Doug Liman, not to mention Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley in starring roles, “Chaos Walking” was shaping up to be one of 2019’s anticipated films. Following lousy test screenings, though, reshoots were ordered for the “unreleasable” cut. Will the alterations save the picture or are audiences walking into chaos? “The Ask” is still waiting for “The Answer.”
“Rebecca” Release Date: TBA 2020
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Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation of “Rebecca” stands out as the director’s only film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. That’s a pretty tough act to follow, but Daphne du Maurier’s gothic novel is open to multiple interpretations and director Ben Wheatley knows a thing or two about the thriller genre. Lily James and Armie Hammer fill the roles that were previously played by Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier, respectively. Will Netflix have another Oscar contender on their hands?
“Enola Holmes” Release Date: TBA 2020
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Who knew that Sherlock Holmes had a younger sister? “The Enola Holmes Mysteries” are sort of like a Victorian version of Nancy Drew. While for young adults, they’re anything but elementary. Millie Bobby Brown plays Sherlock’s fourteen-year-old sibling, who’s every bit as adept at solving mysteries. The first book in the series centers on the disappearance of Enola’s mother, played here by Helena Bonham Carter. We can also expect Sherlock himself to pop up with Henry Cavill in the role.
“The Devil All the Time” Release Date: TBA 2020
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There have been numerous books and movies about war, but only so many about its aftermath. Donald Ray Pollock’s “The Devil All the Time” was a harrowing exploration of post-World War II life. Antônio Campos of “The Punisher” is reteaming with Netflix for what promises to be an equally disturbing interpretation. With a nonlinear structure, the film stars Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgård, and Mia Wasikowska as people dealing with the traumatic ramifications of war in Ohio.
“Minamata” Release Date: TBA 2020
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W. Eugene Smith was a prevalent photojournalist who most notably chronicled the results of mercury poisoning in Japan. Smith worked on this provocative photo essay with his wife, Aileen Mioko Smith, who’d assume much of the heavy-lifting after her husband was attacked by Chisso Company employees trying to repress the truth. Although Smith lost some vision in an eye, his findings were absolutely eye-opening. Johnny Depp plays Smith in this dramatization, which should be an emotional powerhouse if it’s anything like the book.
“Stargirl” Release Date: TBA 2020
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Jerry Spinelli’s bestselling young adult novel was showered with accolades when it hit shelves, including a Parents Choice Gold Award. The book was turned into a stage play in 2015 and it’s bound to find an even wider audience as a Disney+ movie. Rising star Grace VanderWaal plays Susan Caraway, a beacon of light in a bleak sky. Susan influences the shy Leo to come out of his shell, amounting to a charming love story about the importance of individuality.
“All the Bright Places” Release Date: TBA 2020
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Along with Liz Hannah of “The Post,” Jennifer Niven co-wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of her young adult novel. Coming from a non-fiction background, Niven was new to the YA genre when she wrote “All the Bright Places.” The results, however, were positively compared to “The Fault in Our Stars” for its compelling romance between two broken teens. Elle Fanning and Justice Smith play our star-crossed young lovers, whose lives intersect in surprising and fascinating ways.
