After a big year for books to the big screen in 2015, we get a whole new bulk load of words jumping from the page to the theater in 2016’s big list of book adaptations. Come on, we can’t be the only ones excited about “The Little Prince,” can we?
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (In theaters now)
Michael Bay’s latest direction features the true accounts of 9/11 (in 2012) by Mitchell Zuckoff in Libya brought explosively to the big screen. The story follows a group of six members of the Annex Security Team who defend their U.S. base in Benghazi from Islamic attacks. John Krasinski, a now ripped Jim Halpert, leads the way. Zuckoff’s book and its adaptation help bring out the “inside account of what really happened in Benghazi.”
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (February 5)
A literary satire of Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice” by Seth Grahame-Smith is now something for us to gawk at, mixing 19th century’s popular social class love conflict with modern day’s popular zombie apocalypse. We really have fallen to idiocy. At least this comes with Lily James and Lena Headey.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (March 4)
A single, expendable reporter (played by Tina Fey) is sent overseas to cover war times in Pakistan and Afghanistan, getting her away from her boring life and relationship out into the real world for some gun shooting, ethnic love and wild white woman fun. Margot Robbie joins in as an unnecessary but completely sexy addition. The film is based on the 2014 debut novel by David Shafer.
The Little Prince (March 18)
Set for a limited release, the director “Kung-Fu Panda” takes on artistically invigorating one of the most timeless children’s books in history, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry about a pilot who lands in the Sahara and comes upon a boy who claims to be an extraterrestrial prince. James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams and more voice the film.
“Allegiant,” the final film of the “Divergent” series comes out the same day. We just don’t care about it as much as we do our “little prince.”
The Jungle Book (April 16)
The storybook adaptation that’s been pushed on its release several times is upon us. Directed by Jon Favreau with the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Idris Elba and Christopher Walken manning the voiceovers, the story of Mowgli, they raised by wolves comes to live action this spring, mixed with a bit of impressive CGI of course. Seriously, that’s a perfect cast of voiceovers. Who doesn’t want to hear Bill do Baloo?
Alice Through the Looking Glass (May 27)
Didn’t get bored enough with Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” back in 2010? Good, there’s more to that book, as Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter suit up with painted faces and get back into their places for another magical journey for director James Bobin. Alice Anne Hathaway travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter (Depp) in this much darker, yet still very Disney fantasy sequel.
The BFG (July 1)
In this Steven Spielberg-directed Disney dream adventure, “BFG” stands for Big Friendly Giant, who, with the help of little girl, Ruby, and the Queen, stops an invasion of man-eating giants. The film is based off the independent reader genre scribe, Roald Dahl, starring Bill Hader, Rebecca Hall and Mark Rylance.
The Girl on the Train (October 7)
Paula Hawkin’s 2015 novel, albeit a boring title, stars Emily Blunt (yes, Emily Blunt!) in a psycho-thriller about a girl on a train who comes upon the “perfect” couple, only to get entangled in their web of mystery and murder. Also, Rebecca Ferguson! You know, one of the few actors who do their own stunts.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (October 21)
Tom Cruise is back as Jack with his hard-hitting bad ass ways in the action sequel of the year. Jack returns to his headquarters to discover he’s the suspect of a homicide. The film follows the first film in 2012, its book written by Lee Childs.
Inferno (October 28)
Tom Hanks reprises his role as Professor Robert Langdon in the sequel to “Angels & Demons” from 2009. In this Dan Brown book adaptation, the Harvard teacher investigates a mystery that he believes to be linked to Dante’s Inferno. The film is directed by Ron Howard, written by David Koepp, adapted from Dan Brown, co-starring Felicity Jones and scores by Hans Zimmer. Dun-duh!
Related: Top 10 TV And Move Graphic Novel Adaptations Of All Time
