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As February 2024 approaches, book lovers and film enthusiasts like me are eagerly awaiting a wave of new adaptations coming to both big and small screens.
This month offers some interesting mysteries and animated fantasies. While we await in-depth columns on Netflix’s One Day, which is based on David Nicholls’s novel of the same name, here are five more highly anticipated book adaptations that will make your February 2024 more exciting:
1. Shōgun (TV Series Premiere, Hulu, FX, Disney+)
Book adaptation: Shōgun by James Clavell
Release Date: February 27, 2024
Based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel, Shōgun is an upcoming historical drama series that unfolds the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai. Cosmo Jarvis, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Anna Sawai lead the cast in a tale set in Japan, where an English sailor, Lord Toranaga, and Lady Mariko navigate a land with unfamiliar culture, political intrigue, and honor. This limited series promises to redefine characters and history in a fictionalized account inspired by real events.
2. The Tiger’s Apprentice (Film Premiere, Paramount+)
Book Adaptation: The Tiger’s Apprentice by Laurence Yep
Release Date: February 02, 2024
Adapted from Laurence Yep’s Newbery Honor-winning fantasy series, this animated film introduces us to 12-year-old Tom Lee, a Chinese American boy thrust into a magical world after his grandmother’s death. With a stellar voice cast including Brandon Soo Hoo and Henry Golding, the story unfolds with a talking tiger, dragon, and monkey, drawing inspiration from ancient Chinese mythology. Originally slated for theatrical release, this much-anticipated adaptation now premieres on Paramount+.
3. The Taste of Things (Theatrical Film Premiere)
Book adaptation: The Passionate Epicure by Marcel Rouff
Release Date: February 09, 2024
Transporting us to 1885 France, The Taste of Things is a visually stunning film directed by Trần Anh Hùng. Inspired by Marcel Rouff’s novel, the movie stars Juliette Binoche as Eugénie, a talented cook entangled in a love affair with her employer. As health issues threaten their world, Binoche and Benoît Magimel deliver compelling performances against the backdrop of sumptuous French culinary creations.
4. Tracker (Series Premiere, CBS)
Book adaptation: The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver
Release Date: February 11, 2024
Bringing Jeffery Deaver’s 2019 thriller to the small screen, Tracker introduces us to Colter Shaw, played by Justin Hartley. A freelance bounty hunter with a unique skill set, Colter navigates the world of rewards and family mysteries. With a promise of weekly adventures and a supporting cast including Mary McDonnell, the series looks set to captivate audiences with its blend of action and familial drama.
5. Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers (Film Premiere, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Book Adaptation: Murder at The Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell
Release date: February 02, 2024
Kicking off the month, this film brings to life Alyssa Maxwell’s captivating series set in the opulent world of 19th-century Newport, Rhode Island. Following the adventures of society-page reporter and amateur detective Emma Cross, played by Ali Skovbye, the film delves into a personal mystery involving Emma’s half-brother accused of murder. This Hallmark movie, starring an ensemble cast including Danny Griffin and Nathan Witte, promises to be a delightful companion to HBO’s The Gilded Age.
Which adaptation are you most excited about?
Happy reading!❤️