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Original poster

Books you really want to make it to the screen

127 replies

Ineedtocleanmywoodenblinds · 15/12/2022 13:12

I've been reading the Rivers of London books recently and I love them and I'd love to see a TV adaptation of them (already I've cast Regé-Jean Page as Peter Grant). Also I would love to see Secret History by Donna Taart.

Anyone else have any ideas for book to TV.

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 15/12/2022 21:42

Needhelp101 · 15/12/2022 13:21

Definitely The Secret History!
I've cast that so many times in my head.

I do this too 😂 every time I read the book I tweak the cast a little bit. Always find Julian weirdly difficult to cast. But yeah I came on here to say The Secret History too!

Can’t think of another one at the moment. I’ve always been of the (unpopular) view that in about 30 years there will be a great space for an improved and more faithful Harry Potter adaptation, perhaps a TV series, where the cast are carefully selected and the characters are treated properly - ie don’t remove all Ron’s good points and heap them merrily onto Hermione.

Alighttouchonthetiller · 15/12/2022 21:43

StayWeird · 15/12/2022 21:24

I came on to suggest C J Samson's Shardlake series but can see it's already had a mention Grin

It would make the most amazing tv series, I'm surprised it hasn't been done already!

Another vote for Shardlake. Those books would make fantastic telly.

Kanaloa · 15/12/2022 21:43

Oh, and Malory Towers! I know there was a recent TV series, but it had basically nothing to do with the series of books I loved as a child other than some characters sharing the same names as girls in the books. It would have been better to call the TV series ‘stories from X school’ and rename the school and characters.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Books
Kanaloa · 15/12/2022 21:45

PortableVirgins · 15/12/2022 13:25

I've cast it too, but now my original cast are far too old, or actually dead! (Philip Seymour Hoffmann was my casting as Bunny, and he would have been excellent...)

Show quote history

Ah, when I read it I always imagined a really young Matt Damon for Bunny. My friend always says ‘no he’s too nice!’ But Hoffman also would have been good. Wonder who they would cast now…

PondintheRain · 15/12/2022 21:48

LabradorsLoveSausages · 15/12/2022 15:16

No way The Secret History. It's too perfect a book to be made into a film.

I'd love to see Brother of the more Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido. Not sure how well known the book is, but it's wonderful with the most excellent characters. I even know who I'd want to play each one.

And a new adaptation of Tales of the City. Gorgeous.

I love Barbara Trapido. Who is your cast for BotMFJ?

Dandelion89 · 15/12/2022 21:48

The midnight library by Matt Haig

PondintheRain · 15/12/2022 21:53

I want Jane Campion to make a series of Charlotte Bronte’s Villette, but I entirely understand why it’s never filmed when there are dozens of Jane Eyres — the heroine keeps schtum about key plot points, the love interest switches halfway through, and the second man she loves is (probably) killed off at the end, only the novel refuses to state it explicitly.

DogInATent · 15/12/2022 21:55

Another vote for Rivers of London.
Also...
The early Laundry novels by Charles Stross.
The Drawing of The Dark by Tim Powers
Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott

MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 15/12/2022 21:58

Ineedtocleanmywoodenblinds · 15/12/2022 13:12

I've been reading the Rivers of London books recently and I love them and I'd love to see a TV adaptation of them (already I've cast Regé-Jean Page as Peter Grant). Also I would love to see Secret History by Donna Taart.

Anyone else have any ideas for book to TV.

He's not young enough! Peter is only around 21-22 at the start of the books, I think. It'd be a fantastic role for a young mixed race actor just starting out.

pointythings · 15/12/2022 21:58

@DogInATent if they do The Drawing of the Dark then they really also have to do The Anubis Gates. And The Stress Of Her Regard.

Oliol · 15/12/2022 22:01

YY Secret History.

Also That Ol' Ace in the Hole (Annie Proulx).

Peachyscream · 15/12/2022 22:02

Most of the Jodi Picoult books
Princess series by Jean Sasson

MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 15/12/2022 22:02

I actually don't know want The Chronicles of St Mary's televised. They're too fantastical, it'd never do them justice.

Honks · 15/12/2022 22:04

LabradorsLoveSausages · 15/12/2022 15:16

No way The Secret History. It's too perfect a book to be made into a film.

I'd love to see Brother of the more Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido. Not sure how well known the book is, but it's wonderful with the most excellent characters. I even know who I'd want to play each one.

And a new adaptation of Tales of the City. Gorgeous.

Absolutely Brother of the more famous Jack. Superb book.

Needhelp101 · 15/12/2022 22:11

Oh and OF COURSE the Discworld novels. Particularly the Witches ones and the Watch ones.

Had a few enjoyable casting threads on here before!

DelphiniumBlue · 15/12/2022 22:16

Topseyt123 · 15/12/2022 15:29

For me:

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Chronicles of St. Mary's by Jodi Taylor
The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka.

Those are my favourites.

I didn't know there were Benedict Jacka books for adults .. DS3 and I loved his Ninja books.. just ordered Fated as an extra xmas pressie for DS - thank you!

TitilatedOcelot · 15/12/2022 22:19

I always thought Espedair Street by Iain Banks would make a great film when I read it back in the 90s, surprised it's never been done. Might be a bit dated now.

JaneJeffer · 15/12/2022 22:21

The Silent Patient

Kate Ellis' Wesley Peters novels

FTY765 · 15/12/2022 22:22

Peachyscream · 15/12/2022 22:02

Most of the Jodi Picoult books
Princess series by Jean Sasson

Some of the JP books are on YouTube, they were made for TV movies. in the USA. Plain Truth, The Pact, A Change of heart are all on there. There is also my sisters keeper, which you may have seen, as it was the one that was a cinema release.

123ZYX · 15/12/2022 22:26

blue12345 · 15/12/2022 15:42

Lessons in Chemistry

This is already being made - it will be on Apple TV + film, due to be released next year.

Wine4whine · 15/12/2022 22:33

Alex Smith's DCI Kett series. Generally, not my favourite genre but fantastic books!

echt · 15/12/2022 22:33

reddingweddy · 15/12/2022 21:10

The Flashman books,

I love those books!

I think the attitudes and language, so essential to character and time wouldn't pass modern sensibilities. Unfortunately.

I'd like to see the Bryant and May detective stories as a TV series.

DoggerelBank · 15/12/2022 22:37

Yes yes to Poisonwood Bible. Such a powerful story. And lovely to be reminded of Barbara Trapido. Haven't read any for ages but so good. Jacquie Bloese's The French House would make a good film too - although the Literary Potato Pie one with a similar setting was disappointingly awful.
Secret History - wow! Interesting that it still has such a strong fan club. So loved it back in the day. Maybe it deserves a reread.

Madreb · 15/12/2022 22:41

I also would love 'the night circus' to be made into a film!

DuncanBiscuits · 15/12/2022 22:42

EmmaGrundyForPM · 15/12/2022 13:35

Am I the only one on here who hated Rivers of London?

I'd like to see a film/mini series of Barbara Kingsolver's "The Poisonwood Bible".

I hated it. I thought the protagonist was a sexist pig.