Category Archives: Movie Adaptations

Harpo Films to Adapt “The Invention of Wings”

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Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, “The Invention of Wings” will be heading to the big screen. Harpo Films announced that they have acquired the film right to the New York Times Bestseller.

“The Invention of Wings” has been one of the selections for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0.

Kidd’s book, which follows the success of her previous novels, “The Secret Life of Bees” and “The Mermaid Chair,” is about two unforgettable women, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world. It tells a remarkable fictionalized story of real-life 19th century abolitionist sisters Angelina and Sarah Grimké. In the novel, for her eleventh birthday, Sarah is gifted with a ten-year-old enslaved girl named Hetty. And while Sarah attempts to reject the gift, ultimately she cannot, nor can she free Hetty or even really protect her when she needs it most. Sarah and Hetty’s lives remain intertwined as they grow into women, each facing their own challenges with courage and faith that they have learned from, and inspired in, one another.

“In her book, Sue Monk Kidd has given us such a rich narrative, compelling characters, and a rare historical perspective that we know will be the ideal foundation for a wonderful film,” said Oprah Winfrey.

An exclusive interview with Oprah and Kidd is planned for broadcast on the Emmy® Award-winning series “Super Soul Sunday” on Sunday, April 13 at 11am ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Sony Plans The Harlem Hellfighters Adaptation

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Max Brooks is definitely doing something right. The “World War Z” author has had another project picked up for the big screen. Sony Pictures will be adapting his upcoming graphic novel, “The Harlem Hellfighters.” The graphic novel was illustrated by Caanan White and will be published next month.

“The Harlem Hellfighters” is set up for development through Overbrook with Josh Bratman attached to produce.

In 1919, the 369th infantry regiment marched triumphantly home from World War 1. They had spent more time in combat than any other American unit, never losing a foot of ground to the enemy, or a man to capture, and winning countless decorations. Though they returned as heroes, this African American unit faced tremendous discrimination, even from their own government. The Harlem Hellfighters, as the Germans called them, fought courageously on—and off—the battlefield to make Europe, and America, safe for democracy.

In “The Harlem Hellfighters,” bestselling author Max Brooks and acclaimed illustrator Caanan White bring this history to life. From the enlistment lines in Harlem to the training camp at Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the trenches in France, they tell the heroic story of the 369th in an action packed and powerful tale of honor and heart.

Sony Pictures Adapting Grasshopper Jungle

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Sony Pictures has officially acquired the film rights to the very recently released novel, “Grasshopper Jungle” written by Andrew Smith. The novel was published last month.

The official plot description is below:

In the small town of Ealing, Iowa, Austin and his best friend Robby have accidentally unleashed an unstoppable army. An army of horny, hungry, six-foot-tall praying mantises that only want to do two things.

This is the truth. This is history.

It’s the end of the world. And nobody knows anything about it.

You know what I mean.

Funny, intense, complex, and brave, Grasshopper Jungle brilliantly weaves together everything from testicle-dissolving genetically modified corn to the struggles of recession-era, small-town America in this groundbreaking coming-of-age stunner.

Scott Rosenberg (Con AirHigh Fidelity) is in talks to adapt the screenplay with Matt Tolmach producing. There is no word on who is being eyed to star in the project or an anticipated release date.

New Teaser Trailer for “The Boxtrolls”

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A brand new teaser trailer for the upcoming film , The Boxtrolls has been released! The film comes from the creators of Coraline and ParaNorman. It releases in theaters on September 26!

The film introduces audiences to a new breed of family – The Boxtrolls, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.

Anthony Staachi and Graham Annable directed The Boxtrolls while it was based on the novel, “Here Be Monsters” written by Alan Snow.

The voice Cast: Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan

Release Date: September 26th, 2014. You can watch the teaser trailer below:

Exclusive Deleted Scene from Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World

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A brand new deleted scene from Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World has been revealed. It is one of the two new deleted scenes now available exclusively on Disney Movies Anywhere, Disney’s all-new, cloud-based digital movie service that enables consumers to discover, purchase, and watch movies from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel.

Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.  In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. To defeat an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor sets upon his most dangerous and personal journey yet, forced into an alliance with the treacherous Loki to save not only his people and those he loves…but our universe itself.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba,Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander and Rene Russo.

You can watch the exclusive deleted scene below:

HBO to Debut Ryan Murphy’s The Normal Heart on May 25

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“The Normal Heart” is scheduled to debut on HBO, Sunday, May 25th. The project is based on the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name, written by Larry Kramer. It was directed by Ryan Murphy.

The story follows the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation’s sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

“The Normal Heart” stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts, the drama also stars Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, Denis O’Hare, Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock and BD Wong.

Roberts plays Dr. Emma Brookner, the paraplegic physician who treats several of the earliest victims of the disease. Ruffalo portrays Ned Weeks, who witnesses first-hand the mysterious disease that has begun to claim the lives of many in his gay community and starts to seek answers. Bomer plays Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover.

Vincent D’Onofrio to Play the Villain in Jurassic World

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The fourth installment in the “Jurassic Park” franchise has found its villain. Vincent D’Onofrio has joined the cast of Jurassic World. Colin Trevorrow will direct the action adventure, which is coming to theaters on June 12, 2015.

D’Onofrio joins an all-star cast that includes Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Jake Johnson, Nick Robinson and Irrfan Khan.

Jurassic World is set 22 years after events of the original Jurassic Park film. However, the exact plot has not been revealed. Trevorrow wrote the script with Derek Connolly. Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley are producing.

The franchise is based on the novel of the same name written by Michael Crichton.

“Pixels” Adaptation Adding Josh Gad, Kevin James and Adam Sandler?

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According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the lead roles in the upcoming big screen adaptation of Patrick Jean’s videogame-inspired short film Pixels, have all but been confirmed. Josh Gad, Kevin James, and Adam Sandler are in talks to star in the project.

The short film, which you can check out in the player below, became a viral hit with its 1980s video game characters attacking New York City. It was previously said that the plan was to make a Ghostbusters-style action comedy in which characters come out of a video game to wreak havoc in the real world.

Sandler is already attached as producer to the film with Chris Columbus directing. Sandler’s production company Happy Madison is behind the big screen adaptation with Tim Herlihy and Tim Dowling providing the screenplay.

Will Smith Could Join Sci-Fi Superhero Film “Brilliance”

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It appears that Will Smith could be joining the upcoming big screen adaptation of  Marcus Sakey’s sci-fi/superhero novel Brilliance. Smith is reportedly eyeing the lead role of Federal Agent Nick Cooper.

Brilliance is to be directed by Julius Onah with a script by David Koepp.

The original book was published last year and is officially described as follows:

In Wyoming, a little girl reads people’s darkest secrets by the way they fold their arms. In New York, a man sensing patterns in the stock market racks up $300 billion. In Chicago, a woman can go invisible by being where no one is looking. They’re called “brilliants,” and since 1980, one percent of people have been born this way. Nick Cooper is among them; a federal agent, Cooper has gifts rendering him exceptional at hunting terrorists. His latest target may be the most dangerous man alive, a brilliant drenched in blood and intent on provoking civil war. But to catch him, Cooper will have to violate everything he believes in—and betray his own kind.

Brilliance will be produced by Jon Jashni, Joe Roth and Thomas Tul with Alex Hedlund, Eric McLeod and Palek Patel executive producing
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Jennifer Aniston Eyes Headlining Role in New Line’s “Mean Moms”

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According to a recent report from TheWrap, Jennifer Aniston is looking to play the lead role in the upcoming film, Mean Moms from New Line Cinema. The film is an adaptation of Rosalind Wiseman’s nonfiction book “Queen Bee Moms And King Pin Dads,” a followup to her 2002 book “Queen Bees and Wannabees.” That book also served as the source material for the 2004 comedy Mean Girls.

Mean Moms will be directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller. It is being produced by Offspring Entertainment’s Jennifer Gibgot and Adam Shankman.

Published in 2007, “Queen Bee Moms And King Pin Dads” is officially described as follows:

What happens to Queen Bees and Wannabes when they grow up?

Even the most well-adjusted moms and dads can experience peer pressure and conflicts with other adults that make them act like they’re back in seventh grade. In “Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads,” Rosalind Wiseman gives us the tools to handle difficult situations involving teachers and other parents with grace.

“Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads” is filled with the kind of true stories that made Wiseman’s New York Times bestselling book Queen Bees & Wannabes impossible to put down. There are tales of hardworking parents with whom any of us can identify, along with tales of outrageously bad parents—the kind we all have to reckon with. For instance, what do you do when parents donate a large sum of money to a school and their child is promptly transferred into the honors program–while your son with better grades doesn’t make the cut? What about the mother who helps her daughter compose poison-pen e-mails to yours? And what do you say to the parent-coach who screams at your child when the team is losing? Wiseman offers practical advice on avoiding the most common parenting “land mines” and useful scripts to help you navigate difficult but necessary conversations.