Wish List for Book to Movie Adaptations

[chris2342]

I'd like to see Darren Aronofsky or someone equally as cerebral yet spooky try to interpret "House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski. It's the only book that has successfully creeped me out in probably a decade. It would indeed be a heady task to take on though.

[St.]

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

We3 by Grant Morrison

[Adam Balm]

We3 by Grant Morrison

Sir you've just made many friends on this board...

[Airstrike]

Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

Scorcesse was talking about doing it a couple of years ago, that film would be more epic than anything being released today.

[bluebottle]

We3 by Grant Morrison

Sir you've just made many friends on this board...

HE-RE HE-RE

[Flyinguillotine]

My wish list:

The Master and Margarita
A Confederacy of Dunces
The Whimper of Whipped Dogs
Doom Patrol

[King Psyz]

When Worlds Collide
and
After Worlds Collide

it was really one book, but it was friggin brilliant. the early movie doesn't count as it had nearly nothing to do with the story I read. Really really great stuff waiting to be used there.

[You Know My Name]

The Caves of Steel
The Naked Sun
The Robots of Dawn
The Gods Themselves
The Foundation Trilogy
Stranger in a Strange Land
The Cyberiad
Rendezvous with Rama

[burlivesleftnut]

I'd like to see Darren Aronofsky or someone equally as cerebral yet spooky try to interpret "House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski. It's the only book that has successfully creeped me out in probably a decade. It would indeed be a heady task to take on though.

Holy christ child, that would be a difficult adaptation. I have thought about it alot actually, and it would be killer to see it as a miniseries, but instead of telling the story like the book does, have one movie following the narrator in the present... one movie following the narrator as he discusses the Navison Docu... and the final movie would be the actual Navison documentary.

[Carolian]

I know Arthur C. Clarke's CHILDHOOD'S END was mentioned earlier, and I have to reiterate that--in the right hands--that would make a fantastic film.

If they pulled out all the stops, an adaptation of Jack Ketchum's THE GIRL NEXT DOOR could be one of the most harrowing films ever made. I doubt the MPAA would stand for all the insane shit in that book, though. NC-17 for sure.

[Shane]

The Bible

[buster00]

Tom Robbins fans in the hizzy?

"Still Life With Woodpecker."

[rufie72]

Waiting for Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.
And what about Veronica Decides to Die? I heard that's coming out with Bjork.

[magicmonkey]

Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear. I hear rumour of the film, anyone know more, please, please.

[rserocki]

I'd be interested in Roger Zelanzy's Lord of Light as a movie, if only because of all the Mighty Thor-esque concept art Jack Kirby drew for it: http://www.lordoflight.com/art.html

I'd be interested in a 'good' Fafhrd & Grey Mouser movie, and I've be interested in a 'good' Stainless Steel Rat movie.

It's fun to imagine a live-action Journey to the West movie, but I don't think it'd work well.

[John-Locke]

I'd be interested in Roger Zelanzy's Lord of Light as a movie, if only because of all the Mighty Thor-esque concept art Jack Kirby Grande Rojo's favorite person for it: http://www.lordoflight.com/art.html

I'd be interested in a 'good' Fafhrd & Grey Mouser movie, and I've be interested in a 'good' Stainless Steel Rat movie.

It's fun to imagine a live-action Journey to the West movie, but I don't think it'd work well.

Wow, that sounds like it would make a fantastic movie.

I assume you have read the book, how big a budget would the story need for it to be done justice on screen?

Kirby's designs look cool too.

Have you heard any news about this project being picked up recently or anything?

[minstrel]

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.

All that hit-and-miss philosophy aside, it's one heck of a novel! I'd love to see it as a miniseries on HBO.

[rserocki]

Wow, that sounds like it would make a fantastic movie.

I assume you have read the book, how big a budget would the story need for it to be done justice on screen?

Kirby's designs look cool too.

Have you heard any news about this project being picked up recently or anything?

I have indeed read the book. I unfortunately have not heard any news about the project being picked up recently.

[colonel_lugz]

How bout a 'The Descent' by Jeff Long? awesome book.....was this years film release 'Descent' an adaptation? or an ;inspired by'? or what?

[sartori]

Clive Barker's Imajica would be great, but probably impossible to make

[wildbunch]

Gravity's Rainbow or Crying of lot 49.

Pynchon would be really hard to adapt. But boy it'd be swell if done right.

[Logan5]

ELRIC OF FUCKING MELNIBONE. nuff said

Agrees. Just read the book for like the tenth time just to try and see how good it would be as a movie. And I think it would do rather good. The second book is crappier so you'd probably want to either only make the first book, or make a second and/or third movie based on all the rest of the books.


And by the way: Super-Cannes and Cocaine Nights by the great JG Ballard would be great movies.

[Logan5]

How bout a 'The Descent' by Jeff Long? awesome book.....was this years film release 'Descent' an adaptation? or an ;inspired by'? or what?

Nope, the movie The Descent has nothing to do with the book The Descent.

[rserocki]

The Elric series has been optioned, but I haven't heard anything about this since the original news, I guess a couple years ago now.

[Shane]

I'd be interested in Roger Zelanzy's Lord of Light as a movie, if only because of all the Mighty Thor-esque concept art Jack Kirby Grande Rojo's favorite person for it: http://www.lordoflight.com/art.html

I'd be interested in a 'good' Fafhrd & Grey Mouser movie, and I've be interested in a 'good' Stainless Steel Rat movie.

It's fun to imagine a live-action Journey to the West movie, but I don't think it'd work well.

Wow, that sounds like it would make a fantastic movie.

I assume you have read the book, how big a budget would the story need for it to be done justice on screen?

Kirby's designs look cool too.

Have you heard any news about this project being picked up recently or anything?

anything visually looking like Kirby on the big screen and done right would be ground breaking.

[Peven]

surprised no one has mentioned Stephen R Donaldson yet. i'd like to see something of his adapted for the big screen. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant would be at the top of my list, but The Mirror of Her Dreams/A Man Rides Through duology or The Gap series would be great to see done well on the big screen too. for anyone who likes good science fiction with an edge, The Gap series is a must read, imo. another series i'd like to see on the big screen is from Patricia McKillip: The Riddlemaster of Hed/Heir of Sea and Fire/Harpist in the Wind.

[Neya]

The Mist by Stephen King would make a great movie, probably doable in 2 1/2 hours and be damn near a perfect translation.

Id also love to see The Shadow Over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft.

Lastly, not realistic in the least unless a filmmaker wanted to make either 20 movies or a multi season tv series with the budget of a small country's net worth, but the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan would be interesting to see.

[thomasgaffney]

Lastly, not realistic in the least unless a filmmaker wanted to make either 20 movies or a multi season tv series with the budget of a small country's net worth, but the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan would be interesting to see.

Neya, I've heard great things aobut the Wheel of Time books, but I haven't read any yet. What do you think of them?

[Peven]

the Many Colored Land series by Julian May would be so cool to see realized on screen too.

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Bringing Down The House, not the novelization of that damn Queen Latifah movie, but the story of those M.I.T. kids that mastered card counting and broke a casino in Vegas. Actually, this book is already being adapted...by the guy that wrote Analyze That and Be Cool, unfortunately. No doubt he'll dumb the book down. Often times I've thought about quitting my job, quickly adapting it myself and submitting it around the same time the hack writer does. Not that I'm a good writer, I'm not. However I know my piece of crap will smell better than his.

[Adam Balm]

Holy crap. Good call. Another great MIT hack book is Nightwork, about the tech pranks they got up to over the years...

[circyn]

I'd love to see 'The Dark' by James Herbert adapted. It's a cheesy horror no doubt about it but some of the set pieces would be awesome on screen. That book gave me the creeps ....

[Neya]

Neya, I've heard great things aobut the Wheel of Time books, but I haven't read any yet. What do you think of them?

They're fantastic, but honestly I think the story has gotten away from Jordan. Up to eleven books now, and the last three books total advanced the storyline less than one single book did earlier in the series. Early on, it's fantastic, the first six books will grab you and not let go, books seven, eight, nine and ten will likely piss you off for slowing down, becoming more politically oriented and muddled a bit. Book eleven revived the feelings of the earlier novels a bit, more resolution, more progression, but I think the damage was done with the midcycle lull.

Overall, the series is a worthy read, a time consuming one, but definately worth doing, but depending on your reading speed, wait a tad so Jordan has time to work on the supposed final book.

Anyway, just so that wasnt a total derail, Id also like to add that a movie adaptation of the Dragonlance Chronicles would be nifty too.

[thomasgaffney]

Neya, I've heard great things aobut the Wheel of Time books, but I haven't read any yet. What do you think of them?

They're fantastic, but honestly I think the story has gotten away from Jordan. Up to eleven books now, and the last three books total advanced the storyline less than one single book did earlier in the series. Early on, it's fantastic, the first six books will grab you and not let go, books seven, eight, nine and ten will likely piss you off for slowing down, becoming more politically oriented and muddled a bit. Book eleven revived the feelings of the earlier novels a bit, more resolution, more progression, but I think the damage was done with the midcycle lull.

Overall, the series is a worthy read, a time consuming one, but definately worth doing, but depending on your reading speed, wait a tad so Jordan has time to work on the supposed final book.

Anyway, just so that wasnt a total derail, Id also like to add that a movie adaptation of the Dragonlance Chronicles would be nifty too.

Thanks for the info!

[smatterkitty]

I'd liek to see Infinite Jest, although it would have to be a 3 part epic.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

I'd liek to see Infinite Jest, although it would have to be a 3 part epic.

Hell, the footnotes alone are a movie...with a 4hr run time.

Tho' I would love to see HBO do this, along with Gravity's Rainbow.

[wharto]

Trinity by Leon Uris, may not be possible to make because of the sectarianism in the story but would make an excellent read.

[Carolian]

I really think that, if the screenplay was tight enough and the budget was high enough, THE WHEEL OF TIME would indeed make a great series. Really, if you cut out a lot of the bickering and the "Mat/Rand/Perrin never has this problem with girls" stuff, there's a good 3-hour movie to be made out of each book there. Whether the public will continue to swallow large-scale fantasy, I don't know. NARNIA seems to be doing well, but...

[EliCash]

i know its got wolfgang petersen attached or some shit, but Ender's Game would be fucking amazing if done properly

[Neya]

Whether the public will continue to swallow large-scale fantasy, I don't know.

I think at this point, no, not one on this size and scale. Wheel of Time would either be neutered beyond recognition if each book were a 3 hour movie, or it would take multiple movies per book, either way, the story would either be too hacked apart or too drawn out to keep audiences. Heck, a film franchise based on a 12 book long story would be alot for anyone to swallow.

An animated tv series would work, each book could easily provide enough material for an entire season of half hour, maybe even hour long episodes.

[HGM]

Zelazny's Lord of Light
Zelazny's Nine Princes in Amber
Fraser's Flashman novels (done right)
My book (although that's just crazy wishful thinking!)

H.

[Carolian]

think at this point, no, not one on this size and scale. Wheel of Time would either be neutered beyond recognition if each book were a 3 hour movie, or it would take multiple movies per book, either way, the story would either be too hacked apart or too drawn out to keep audiences. Heck, a film franchise based on a 12 book long story would be alot for anyone to swallow.

Too true. It is kind of a lot to ask of the public: "We have a twenty-movie series coming in at about 60 hours! Come watch!" I like the idea of an animated show. It would be nice to have SOME kind of adaptation. Still. Not holding my breath

One thing's for sure. Better unfilmed than neutered. Sci-Fi's stupid fucking EARTHSEA shit convinced me of that once and for all.

Topic? Let Clive Barker direct an adaptation of THE DAMNATION GAME.

[wonkabar]

Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

Scorcesse was talking about doing it a couple of years ago, that film would be more epic than anything being released today.

That it would be. That's the other director besides Stone that I'm just dying to see a sci-fi/fantasy-genre picture from.

[Gheorghe Zamfir]

I always thought with CGI where its at these days, Watership Down is prime for another adaptation.

[MudslideMick]

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) by George R.R. Martin.

Anyone heard of this series?

Since nobody answered your question, so I'll give it a shot...

The Amazon reviews are spot on. This is fantasy at its very best. The writing for the first book, A Game of Thrones, is so tight and crisp the energy flows from one chapter to the next. There is absolutely no filler in that first book. The next two books continue and expand the great story, although the writing's not quite as perfect as in the first. The series would make a horrible set of movies however. They're simply too big. The 3 books for LOTR was about 1100 pages. The first 3 books for A Song of Fire and Ice stands at roughly 3120 pages.

Anyone thinking about starting the Wheel of Time series? Do yourself a favor and wait until Jordan finishes the thing, otherwise you'll only end up frustrated and angry like my father.

Two fantasy series' that might make good movie-fare:
The Belgariad by David Eddings. Fun linear story with good character chemistry. The five books could easily be condensed into three movies. They'd fill the gap between the Disneyland Narnia and the darker Middle-Earth.

The first six Dragonlance books would also work well. You've got interesting, movie-friendly characters(Raistlin, Tas and Fizban are legendary) and the Dragons could make for some awesome CGI work. Plus Angelina Jolie as Kitiara would be hot!

[Peven]

I think the works of Robert Heinlen are ripe for big-screen adaptation, and as much as Dick's stuff is used i am surprised Heinlen's work hasn't been tapped into yet. Luc Besson should make a movie based on a Robert Heinlen book, like Friday. that would be very cool.

[clownboy]

My pick goes to Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis. A kind of retelling of the Frankenstein story meets old yellar. Worth the read, and would make a fantastic movie.

I'd also like to see Geek Love get turned into a film, but only if it were an animated film.

And finally, Yummy Fur.

[Hollywood_Bob]

To really go out on a limb...I wouldn't mind seeing a couple more of Dan Brown's novels adapted. He has a couple of "non-religious" books out, that I think would really work as movies...esp Digital Fortress.

[You Know My Name]

Add The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein to the list.

[Airstrike]

If they ever made a film out of Otherland by Tad Williams I would litterally die from hollywood people actually proving to the world that they have balls