Words by Molly Openshaw & Robyn Cowie
Here is a taste of the book to film/television adaptations we can expect to see through the rest of 2021. Many are hotly anticipated due to their stellar casts, the devotions of the books fans and the anticipation to see how these texts have been altered, as well as the fact they have been postponed for obvious reasons and shall finally be gracing our screens.
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney:
This 12 part series, shall be on the BBC and is expected to continue the critical success of Normal People, by the author Sally Rooney which was adapted last year by Hulu and the BBC and was the most streamed programme on iPlayer. Conversation with Friends shall star; Joe Alwyn, Sasha Lane, Jemima Kirke and newcomer Alison Oliver. The book is set in Dublin and follows two university students and close friends, Frances and Bobbi, and the strange, unexpected connection they find with a married couple, Melissa and Nick. The series shall be directed by the Oscar-nominated Lenny Abrahamson, who also directed Normal People, which has led to fans of the previous venture excited for another successful adaptation.
Dune by Frank Herbert:
The 1965 Sci-Fi novel and one of the best-selling sci-fi novels in the history of the genre. The adaptation stars Zendeya, Oscar Isaac and Timothee Chalamet. Dune is set in the distant future amidst a feudal interstellar society in which various noble houses control planetary fiefs. It tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose family accepts the stewardship of the planet Arrakis.The film is going to portray the first half of the novel, with a subsequent sequel to follow. This adaptation stands out due to the emphasis not on the role of technology in the future, but rather the future politics of humanity. The release for the film is now 1/10/2021, and it is expected to be a hit at the box office.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens:
Delia Owens’s Where the Crawdads Sing is a murder mystery starring Daisy Edgar-Jones. The story follows two timelines that slowly intertwine. The first timeline describes the life and adventures of a young girl named Kya as she grows up isolated in the marsh of North Carolina from 1952–1969. The second timeline follows a murder investigation of Chase Andrews, a local celebrity of Barkley Cove, a fictional coastal town of North Carolina. The book has been dominating the New York Times best-selling fiction list since its release in 2019.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness:
This hit young adult trilogy is being adapted into Chaos Walking and is incorporating the three books from the series. Starring Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland, this film is expected to be a favorite on streaming services. This film is set in a dystopian universe where there are no women and you are able to hear people’s thoughts. Todd, played by Tom Holland, helps Viola, played by Daisy Risley, escape after landing on the planet. Expected to release on streaming services in April 2021, this film is highly anticipated for fans of the young adult dystopian trilogy.
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie:
Agatha Christie’s 1937 murder mystery Death on the Nile is anticipated to release in September 2021. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Gal Gadot, this film is a follow up to 2017 film adaptation of Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. This film follows a detective investigating the murder of an heiress on a cruise ship on the Nile. With themes of travel, murder, love and jealousy, this film is expected to be a successful book adaptation for murder mystery lovers.
