I couldn't find a thread like this one so I figured I'd make one.
What novels or comics do you think need to be adapted into movies or a television series?
Currently off the top of my head...
Movies:
The Once and Future King by T.H. White (1958)
I'm really surprised that this hasn't happened yet. I know there have been various versions of the King Arthur story but none that are truly epic. The Once and Future King could easily be a trilogy if they wanted it to be, maybe even four movies. They would of course have to add to the story if they go that route but I wouldn't have a problem with it. They did that to The Hobbit.
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (1974)
About a team that goes to another planet to get revenge on an alien race that attacked humans. The author mimics the Vietnam war. The book does have three other sequels of sorts that they could use to either add to the story or to make a saga out of.
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer
There have been a few attempts to make these into movies and none of them quiet hit the mark. Troy was okay but it wasn't anywhere as good as it could've been. I want to see each of these as a stand alone movie but still have the same actor as Odysses. If done right these movies could become award winners. Something along the lines of Gladiator meets The Lord of the Rings.
TV Series:
Jack Reacher by Lee Child (1997 - present)
I'm one of the few that loves the movies but I'd much rather see a TV show about this. Each season could be based off of one book. Tittle the show Jack Reacher, or just Reacher, and the season title off of what book it's based on. There are so many books that they wouldn't have to worry about running out of material to use.
The Dark Tower by Stephen King (1982 - 2004)
I know the movie is coming out and I'm excited for it, also I believe it's going to be after the book series, but I'd much rather see this as a series on Netflix based off the books. They could even use the prequel graphic novels for more material.
Comments
Here's a blog article I wrote on the possibilities of a film version of Horse Under Water back in 2009:
http://thebondologistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/george-lazenby-and-film-of-horse-under.html
A comment from The Deighton Dossier's Rob Mallows on my blog article above:
There is, according to Len, now a possibility of Horse Under Water being filmed - a production company has secured the rights, but nothing's in production yet.
So, some hope there for the future at the very least....
This one could be a smashing thriller:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1384559.The_Windchime_Legacy
Clarke's Rama series has potential but may only work when the screenwriters are allowed a lot of freedom with the source material.
Tons of great Batman comics and graphic novels could be adapted to the big screen, but only when the right people get to do it.
Then there's a great thriller called Shibumi which @Perilagu_Khan suggested to me ten years ago or so, I can't remember. ;-) Either way, excellent book; might be turned into an interesting spy thriller.
I honestly believe that the Illiad and the Odyssey can be turned into expensive television series, since there's a lot of talking going on in those books and that's exactly what television series are good at: talking.
Oh and almost all of Ed Brubaker's comics and graphic novels since Brubaker, even more so than Alan Moore for example, knows how to tell a story. I'm talking about Criminal, The Fade Out, Kill Or Be Killed, Scene Of The Crime, Velvet and others. Plenty of stuff for films and television.
And since we're talking comics, the ongoing series Injection could make a thrilling film.
Would also love to see TORPEDO 1936 on the big screen.
Tex Willer? :D
Only an occasional reader myself, but the character would be sure to fit the movie format if Lucky Luke is!
Like @QsAssistant, I would like a Jack Reacher tv-series. Also agree on all points regarding it. One book for each season would be great, given that this isn't a 24-episode thing. Bosch would be a good comparison.
Not read too much of Deighton's work, but a new Harry Palmer film would be very welcome. Perhaps even a mini-(tv)series, @Dragonpol? With SS-GB being produced for tv, why not Palmer?
Yes they are. I'll update the title of the thread so there's no confusion.
Other than that, John Gardner's The Secret Generations is way overdue for an adaptation as a mini-series.
Jack Reacher could use a fresh start too I agree. Cruise does his best but he just doesn't suit the character. Casting a famously short actor as a character who's massive size is part of what makes him stand out is just a really stupid move imo. One of the biggest miscasts in cinema history. First film was decent, second one just felt generic. Time for a reboot imo (film or TV), preferrably with a Gone Tomorrow or Killing Floor adaptation.
And I thought the film was fine and got unfair reviews (deserves more credit just for having the balls to do something different for a blockbuster imo, such as the historical sections all being in Spanish with a muslim moor protagonist) but I think Assassin's Creed would work a lot better as a TV series. What makes the games special to me is the epic stories that span years and have different well developed main characters and colourful supporting casts. The film nailed the action, had an interesting story and Aguilar was definitely distinct but they didn't spend enough time in the past to develop him. The modern day stuff was interesting, which surprised me because I usually hate that side of the games and think they should ditch it altogether, but even if they had done more animus scenes you can't expect to deliver a satisfying AC story in a two hour film imo. But a TV series could be fantastic, allow for a long epic story like the best of the games have and they'd have time for modern day too if they insist on including it. How I'd do it is as an anthology, each series with a new assassin in a new time period.
The art in those books lie in how they were written, not in the stories they depict. To do them justice, you would need a narration over it.
That would be equally welcome, @Torgeirtrap. In fact, any kind of adaptation really by this stage would be great. :)
It really would! I was sure I had read something about another Deighton-series in the works too. A little bit of searching, and I found it! Turns out this article was a few years old, and I couldn't find any more information apart from what was written here:
http://www.indiewire.com/2013/04/simon-beaufoy-to-adapt-those-len-deighton-novels-quentin-tarantino-once-wanted-to-tackle-99462/
Yes, heard about that myself some years ago. Sounds good, though doubt it will happen now.
This is the only thing I've read about it at all:
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Mandrake-Magician-Movie-Has-Finally-Found-Its-Star-135727.html
Never seen Cohen outside Borat and roles like that, but I'm sure he'll be able to do a more serious role too. Steve Carell is a comedian too, and he's done several drama roles.
This is getting a TV expansion based around Roland's past. Idris Elba is set to return for present day sections.
He has a somewhat more serious role in Hugo Cabret. Comedy is the hardest thing to pull off anyway. If you can do that, you can probably do a lot of other stuff as well.
Agreed. I guess comic timing helps a lot.