More books-to-film 2014

2014 is shaping up to be a huge year for books that have transitioned to film. In January I wrote about a few that were due early in the piece, most have since been released, but there’s still over 20 more that are scheduled for the next few months.

Arguably the most popularly awaited is the final installment of the adventures of hobbit Bilbo Baggins, titled The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies.  Acclaimed director Peter Jackson’s expanded story is bound to culminate in some fantastic imagery and character fun, it’s grown much larger and somewhat darker than the children’s book upon which it was based. It’ll be interesting to see if any further fan service occurs in the form of LOTR characters who appear who are not actually present in the book. The changes made by Jackson and his crew usually do add value however, and it should be an action packed and emotional finale. The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies is due for release on December 26.

Gillian Flynn has had a massive year, with both of her popular books Dark Places (2009) and Gone Girl (2012) due for release in coming months. Charlize Theron and Christina Hendricks star in Dark Places, the 1980’s set story about the survivor of a massacre in a small US rural town, thought to be perpetrated by a Satanic cult. The bestseller Gone Girl, about a dysfunctional family, narrated by unreliable accounts is due for release on October 2 starring Ben Affleck and Rosamunde Pike.

Another 2009 novel to hit the big screen is Gaye Forman’s If I Stay, a young adult novel that deals with some difficult themes. The main character Mia, played by Chloe Grace Mortiz (a significant change from her previous character of Hit Girl!) is comatose after a near fatal accident, reliving her life and possible future life depending on whether she chooses to live or to let go. If I Stay is due out in a couple of weeks on August 28.

Stay tuned for more books-to-film next week!