The good news: Hollywood producers have decided YA books make great movies. The bad news: Some YA movies don’t do justice to great YA books. But extra good news is that Hollywood is going to keep on trying. That means you’ll be seeing more and more of your favorite blockbuster books remade for the big screen.
Some of what’s coming up – with links to the authors (in order of release dates)
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Ender Wiggin and the Buggers on a big screen! Asa Butterfield (Ender) also played Hugo in the movie based on Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Release date is November 1, 2013. (Note: Has anybody else seen the poster with the added tagline – This Is Not A Game? What a spoiler shame!)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Death narrates this World War II story about a girl’s love affair with books. Release date November 15, 2013. Check here for cool production images from the film.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins Sequel to the gigantic The Hunger Games. Release date is November 22, 2013. (Note: The Hunger Games: Mockinjay I and II are already being cast.)
Divergent by Veronica Roth In a future dystopian Chicago, teens challenge the status quo. Release is March 21, 2014
The Fault in our Stars by John Green According to tweets from the author, the producer cast real teen cancer survivors to play the protagonist’s cancer support group. Release date is in 2014.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K.Rowling No Harry Potter here in this movie version of Rowling’s “textbook”. The book’s protagonist, Newt Scamander, lives in New York and the year is somewhere in the 1920s. Watch for hippogriffs and Ukranian Ironbellies in the movie as well as in a Fantastic Beasts video game and a long list of other products (of course). No release date.
The Maze Runner by James Dasher Release date February 14, 2014.
The Giver by Lois Lowry Cast includes hunky Brenton Thwaites as Jonas. No release date.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman The cast, so far, includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, and Jamie Blackley (from Snow White and the Huntsman). No release date.
Fallen by Lauren Kate Some casting is done in this story about two angels competing for the love of a young girl. No release date.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery An indie company is making a movie of the long-running (50 years!) Canadian hit, Anne of Green Gables – the Musical. No cast or details yet.
Chaos Walking (The Knife of Never Letting Go) by Patrick Ness is also said to be in development as a movie project. No cast or details yet.
Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare In case you hadn’t heard, City of Bones did so poorly at the box office this sequel (which was actually in production) has been postponed indefinitely.