Unsurprisingly, many book to film adaptations will be gracing the big screen this year, and hoping to be a hit with fans and newcomers to the stories alike. As this is often met with mixed success, it will be interesting to see which of these adaptations are a hit and which don’t quite hit the spot. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather ones I am excited to see or have caught my eye. The release dates refer to UK cinema release dates unless otherwise stated.

Ophelia

Initial Release: 22 January (US)

Based on the Shakespearean character and the novel by Lisa Klein, Ophelia is a re-imagining of the classic tragedy, Hamlet. It premiers at the Sundance Film Festival on 22 January.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Release Date: 26 January

Delayed by nearly a whole year as a result of Dylan O’Brien’s injury during filming, The Death Cure is finally here! This film is based on the final book in James Dashner’s Maze Runner series. After the dramatic changes they made to The Scorch Trials (especially the ending) I am both intrigued to see what they’re going to do with this film, and filled with trepidation…

A Wrinkle in Time

Release Date: 23 March

I have never read this book, but there is a lot of hype around the film adaptation. First published in 1962, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle follows Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallis as they seek to rescue Meg’s scientist father, who has mysteriously disappeared.

Ready Player One

Release Date: 30 March

Ready Player One by Ernst Cline is another book I haven’t read, but I’ve seen the trailer and it looks pretty awesome! This book really should be on my TBR as its right up my street. Maybe I’ll get around to reading it before the film is released. Directed by Stephen Spielberg, I have high hopes for this adaptation. Wade Watts adventures into a virtual reality world to find the Easter Egg the world’s creator left behind after his death.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Release Date: 20 April

I have heard of this book before but never read it. It is set in 1946 and written in letter form through the letters Juliet Ashton exchanges with the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society members. It’s rather impossible to ignore the fact that the cast list includes many Downton Abbey alumni.

Mary Queen of Scots

Initial Release: 2 November (US)

Depicting Mary Stuart’s attempt to overthrow Elizabeth I of England, this film is based on John Guy’s biography My Heart Is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots. Watching the television show Reign got me interested in this period of history, but anyone who has watched Reign will know it is by no means historically accurate or particularly well done.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Release Date: 16 November

I absolutely loved the first Fantastic Beasts film. As these films are inspired by ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ by Newt Scamander, a kind of encyclopaedia of magical creatures, we’ll be coming to the film not knowing what’s going to happen, which is rather different to how it felt watching the Harry Potter films having read the books.

Mortal Engines

Release Date: 14 December

I didn’t read this book when I was younger, which was possibly a bit remiss. I loved Peter Jackson’s adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit so I’m really excited to see his next project.

What adaptations are you excited to see this year?