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As the year draws to a close, the holiday season brings with it a cinematic feast for book lovers.
Aside from the Wonka, inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, and a theatrical film adaptation of Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, here are five more highly anticipated book adaptations that will make your December 2023 more exciting:
1. Eileen (Theatrical Film Premiere)
Release date: December 1, 2023
Directed by William Oldroyd, this film adaptation of Ottessa Moshfegh’s 2015 debut novel, Eileen, takes us to 1964.
Jojo Rabbit’s Thomasin McKenzie stars as the titular Eileen Dunlop, a disenchanted secretary at a boys’ prison. Her life takes a dark turn when she becomes infatuated with the new prison psychiatrist, Rebecca Saint John.
The film promises a noirish atmosphere and a captivating performance by McKenzie, with Anne Hathaway and Shea Whigham adding depth to the narrative.
2. Poor Things (Theatrical Film Premiere)
Release date: December 8, 2023
Alasdair Gray’s postmodern 1993 novel, Poor Things, gets a peculiar cinematic treatment by director Yorgos Lanthimos.
The story revolves around a Victorian-era Scottish doctor, McCandless (Ramy Youssef), who recounts the resurrection of a drowned pregnant woman, Bella (Emma Stone), with the brain of her fetus.
The film boasts a powerhouse cast, including Mark Ruffalo as attorney Duncan Wedderburn and Willem Dafoe as scientist Godwin Baxter, promising visually startling scenes to accompany this Frankenstein-esque tale.
5. Leave the World Behind (Netflix Movie)
Release: December 8, 2023
Rumaan Alam’s novel comes to life on Netflix, starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke. The movie, directed by an acclaimed team, explores the complexities of race, class, and survival as two families confront an unknown and unsettling event while on vacation.
3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Series Premiere, Disney+)
Release: December 20, 2023
Rick Riordan’s bestselling fantasy series comes to life in a faithful Disney+ series. The Lightning Thief follows 12-year-old demigod Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), son of Poseidon, on a quest to retrieve Zeus’ stolen “Master Bolt.”
Co-created and co-written by Riordan himself, the series promises a more faithful adaptation than its 2010 film counterpart, with Lance Reddick portraying Zeus in one of his final roles before his untimely passing.
4. The Boys in the Boat (Theatrical Film Premiere)
Release: December 25, 2023
Directed by George Clooney, this film adapts Daniel James Brown’s 2013 nonfiction book, The Boys in the Boat.
Set against the backdrop of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, it tells the inspiring story of the University of Washington rowing team’s quest for gold. Callum Turner takes on the role of Joe Rantz, a key member of the team with a challenging past, supported by Joel Edgerton and James Wolk as the coaches in what promises to be a touching sports drama.
Which adaptation are you most excited about?
Happy holidays!🍿