Here is the February update on the current status of the “books to film” projects that have been mentioned on this blog to this point. I will try to do this once a month in order to follow each film until it reaches DVD. Please remember that release dates are subject to change, and that sometimes “Announced” films never get made.
If you have any news about an upcoming book to film adaptation, please comment and let me know.
The current “books to film” list:
1776: In development with a release date sometime in 2009.
Alice in Wonderland: This Tim Burton film is in post-production with a US release date on 5 March 2010. (Johnny Depp is apparently playing the Mad Hatter.)
The Amulet of Samarkand: In development with a theoretical release date in 2009.
Angels & Demons: In post-production and due in US theaters on 15 May 2009.
Atlas Shrugged: Status currently unknown, as the project has lost its director. Release date is now listed as 2011.
The Bell Jar: The status for this project is currently listed as in development with a theoretical release date still listed as 2008.
The Boggart: In development. US theatrical release sometime in 2009.
Born to Rock: Announced with a release date sometime in 2010.
Chocky: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010. (I’ll be very interested to see this one as I saw the old TV miniseries of this title.)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Announced, with a release date sometime in 2010.
Cirque du Freak: This movie is reported to include the first three books of the series. It has been completed, and The U.S. release date is 23 October 2009.
Confessions of a Shopaholic: Due in U.S. theaters on 13 February 2009.
Coraline: Currently in U.S. theaters.
The Cry of the Icemark: In development with a theoretical release date sometime in 2009.
Deal Breaker: Announced with a release date sometime in 2011.
The Doubtful Guest: In development. U.S. theatrical release expected sometime in 2010.
Dragonriders of Pern: In development with a theoretical release date sometime in 2011.
Dune: (Yes, another version of Dune.) Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010.
The Eye of the World: In development with a release date in 2011.
Fahrenheit 451: Announced with a release date in 2010 sometime.
Far from the Madding Crowd: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010.
The Giver: In development with a 2011 release date.
A Great and Terrible Beauty: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010.
The Great Gilly Hopkins: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I: Currently filming. Due in U.S. theaters on 19 November 2010.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Due in U.S. theaters on 17 July 2009.
He’s Just Not That Into You: Currently in U.S. theaters.
The Hobbit: Announced with a theoretical release date sometime in 2012.
Inkheart: Currently in U.S. theaters.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010.
Life of Pi: In pre-production (though currently on hold) with a theoretical release date sometime in 2011.
The Lovely Bones: In post-production. Due in U.S. theaters 11 December 2009.
Magic Kingdom for Sale: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010 sometime.
Marley & Me: Not yet on DVD.
Maximum Ride: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010.
Monster Blood Tattoo: In Development. U.S. theatrical release sometime in 2010.
My Sister’s Keeper: Due in U.S. theaters on 26 June 2009.
Neuromancer: In pre-production with a release date in 2009 sometime.
New Moon: In pre-production with a U.S. release date on 20 November 2009.
On the Road: Status currently listed a “Unknown” on the IMDB with a theoretical release date still listed as 2009.
Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief: In pre-production. U.S. theatrical release scheduled for 12 February 2010.
Race to Witch Mountain: Due in U.S. theaters on 13 March 2009.
Ramona: In pre-production and due in U.S. theaters on 19 March 2010.
The Screwtape Letters: In pre-production with a theoretical release date in 2010.
Shantaram: In development and due in U.S. theaters sometime in 2011.
A Spell for Chameleon: In development with a theoretical release date in 2011.
Stargirl: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2009.
The Subtle Knife: In pre-production with a theoretical release date sometime in 2009.
The Sword of Shannara: In development withe a theoretical release date in 2010.
The Tale of Despereaux: On DVD April 7, 2009.
A Thousand Splendid Suns: In development with a theoretical release date in 2009.
The Time Traveler’s Wife: Completed with a U.S. release date sometime in 2009.
The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn: Currently filming with a U.S. theatrical release sometime in 2011.
Twilight: On DVD March 21, 2009.
Uglies: Announced with a theoretical release date sometime in 2011.
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Nick Waters and Marta Gonzalez dread their third period biology class, and with good reason. Mrs. Starch, the most feared teacher at the Truman School, gives Marta nightmares and most of the kids break out into a cold sweat if Mrs. Starch even looks their way. There’s one kid who’s different, though. He isn’t one bit afraid of Mrs. Starch. His name is Duane Scrod, Jr., but most of the kids call him Smoke. Smoke is named after fire for a reason; he’s started two and done time in juvenile hall for his trouble. Most of the kids steer clear of Smoke and that’s the way he likes it. But Mrs. Starch has her own way of doing things; nobody gets away with being unprepared in her class, not even Smoke, the school’s most terrifying loner. When Mrs. Starch gets finished with him, he is properly humiliated, but still defiant. The class’s field trip to Black Vine Swamp is the next day. Smoke doesn’t show up, but no one seems to mind. The class doesn’t get to do much exploring before a wildfire breaks out and they are all hustled back to the buses. Everyone escapes except Mrs. Starch, who goes back into the swamp to retrieve Libby Marshall’s asthma inhaler. Mrs. Starch never makes it back to school that day, or the next day either. In fact, she never makes it home as far as anyone can tell, and now Nick is beginning to wonder if she ever made it out of the swamp at all. And what if that so-called wildfire was started on purpose?
