I feel like I am often skimming on the book content for the blog, but have plenty of movies and TV shows to talk about. In an effort to combine those elements, I wanted to share with you a post about 2021 book to screen adaptations. This list is neither complete nor have I read all the books the material will be based on. However, I am known for liking my movie covers and reading books once I have seen trailers, so, I want to share some that I found interesting.
Movies
The Dig
Book by: John Preston
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Scott
Release Date: January 29, 2021
Watch the trailer here.
I am not usually one for historical settings, or at least only when I am really very in the mood … which is rarely. But, I cannot deny that the cast seems brilliant. I am a fan of so many of them, but especially the brilliant Carey Mulligan. The easy access on Netflix is another plus.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean / To All the Boys 3
Book by: Jenny Han
Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Madeleine Arthur, Ross Butler
Release Date: February 12, 2021
Watch the trailer here.
I have read the first book after watching the movie and liked the movie better. Then, for the sequel, I did it the other way round and enjoyed the book more. I haven’t yet decided what I am going to do for the grand finale, but it’s a no-brainer that I will read AND watch Always and Forever, Lara Jean.
Cherry
Book by: Nico Walker
Cast: Tom Holland, Clara Bravo, Jack Reynor
Release Date: February 26, 2021
Watch the trailer here.
I am always a bit hesitant to read autobiographical material, but the movie does intrigue me in a weird way. If I ignore the fact that the trailer makes it seem like there’s plot for three movies crammed into one, I know that Apple produces amazing content. I literally haven’t disliked anything on Apple TV+ that I have watched so far.
Chaos Walking
Book by: Patrick Ness
Cast: Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mad Mikkelsen, David Oyelowo, Nick Jonas
Release Date: March 5, 2021
Watch the trailer here.
I think Patrick Ness is an excellent author and I have no idea why I haven’t read this series yet. I do have them all on my eReader though and fully intend to read them before the release of the movie. I already know that they aren’t going to be very alike and that the franchise will likely be big disaster on screen … but yeah, I am still going to check it out.
Infinite / The Reincarnationist Papers
Book by: D. Eric Maikranz
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Dylan O’Brien, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hughes, Rupert Friend, Jason Mantzoukas
Release Date: May 28, 2021
This movie/book is about a secret society of people who are able to totally recall their previous lives. That sounds infinitely interesting to me. The only thing I think is a shame is that Mark Wahlberg replaced Chris Evans as the lead after some scheduling issues. Not gonna lie, I would have preferred Chris …
Dune
Book by: Frank Herbert
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista
Release Date: October 1, 2021
Watch the trailer here.
I understand why Villeneuve wants this to release in cinemas, I really 100% do. I think some of these scenes will look magnificent on a larger scale and I can see the potential of it being goosebump-inducing. I don’t, however, have any previous knowledge of the book or the movie and I don’t plan on changing that before this one releases. I like being a blank slate sometimes.
TV Shows
Shadow and Bone
Book by: Leigh Bardugo
Cast: Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Freddy Carter, Archie Renaux, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Kalligan
Release Date: April, 2021
Watch the teaser here.
This is probably my MOST anticipated release of the entire year. Although I have only read the Six of Crows duology, I am looking forward to seeing these characters come to life. Beware that since this is a mix of several books of the Grishaverse, it may not be the most faithful adaptation in terms of events, but the characters are all I am here for.
Daisy Jones & The Six
Book by: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Cast: Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Suki Waterhouse, Sebastian Chacon, Will Harrison, Nabiyah Be
Release Date: 2021 (maybe)
I am the last person on the planet who has not yet caught up on all of Taylor Jenkins Reid amazing books. The release of the Amazon adapted series isn’t a sure thing for 2021, but if it is releasing this year, I am going to definitely be here for it.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Book by: Rick Riordan
Cast: tbd
Release Date: 2021 (maybe)
We literally know nothing about the show yet, other than it is slated to release on Disney+, potentially in 2021. I didn’t hate the movies, although I am not the best judge (I only read book one), but I am excited for everyone who is excited of them doing the source material justice.
The Player’s Table / They Wish They Were Us
Book by: Jessica Goodman
Cast: Halsey, Sydney Sweeney
Release Date: 2021 (maybe)
Set in a preppy high school, a girl has to solve the murder of her best friend. Have we heard this plot before? Yes, countless times, but I guess some tropes never go out of style. Also, Halsey and Sydney are mesmerizing to watch.
Additional show releases that I didn’t feel like making an extra graphic for are the second season of the Witcher and the third season of You! Both are well underway filming, maybe nearing completion even and should release sometime in 2021.
Life and Other Disasters 
I’ve been meaning to watch The Dig, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
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Is it released? Whoops, looks like I put the wrong date in the post. Hope I didn’t mess up any of the others.
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Good thing about WordPress is you can edit a post if you did make a mistake.
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Actually, I am not gonna change it. I don’t know if there were different release dates in different countries, but my Netflix as well as imdb still says January 29 and I don’t know why google says January 14. But I’d rather keep the later date in.
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I think that’s usually the case. I think Europe got Endgame three whole days before the rest of us did.
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But that was cinema, we are talking Netflix here haha
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I think the rules still apply. I know that an anime Netflix owns was first shown on Netflix Japan months before it got released to the wider world, now that I think about it.
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It’s VERY rare though, especially for big releases. No offense, but Japanese anime are usually not tentpole productions.
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Define tentpole production.
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Okay, tentpole might have been a stretch for Netflix, because they don’t make money off of the number of times people watch it. But I still imagine them expecting more views and subscriptions from this.
In film biz a tentpole production is a movie that will carry the cost of other films, because it does well.
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Yeah, outside of Japan, anime isn’t necessarily a tentpole production.
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I’m always up for any book to screen adaptions, so I loved your post! I’m definitely here for the last To All the Boys movie, as I actually prefer them to the books 😄 Of course I’m also very hyped for Shadow and Bone, I don’t have many expectations, so I hope I might end up loving it 😊
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I prefered the first movie to the books, but I thought they made it far too easy for Peter and showed Lara Jean as irrational, when the book went far more into depth why he was the a**hole in the situation.
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Hi there, thanks for the mention of The Reincarnationist Papers in your article. Seeing this made my day. D. Eric Maikranz
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Very happy to hear it! I am looking forward to hopefully reading the book this year.
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I’m a long-time fan of the novel ‘Dune’. Though many people bagged on it, I enjoyed the David Lynch screen adaptation from 1982. I missed the early 2000’s remake, but I am looking forward to this newest version.
Happy Trails!
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I hope you will have a good time watching this new version then!
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I adore this post.
I feel like I am the only blogger that has yet to read/watch the To All the Boys series. It was always my intention, but I was never in the mood for it, despite the stellar cast.
Shadow and Bone is easily the most anticipated for readers. It’s going to be different for sure, but as long as they capture the essence of my favourite characters, I will support it. Plus, there’s Ben Barnes, and we stan Ben Barnes.
Dune was definitely made for that cinematic experience. I’m equally as clueless about everything else haha.
Daisy Jones is another book I planned on reading but never did. I am here for Sam Claflin though haha.
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I like the To All the Boys books! They are super easy to read. I think I legit read the first one in one night (although I did stay up till like 3AM).
Yes, I am on the same page about Shadow and Bone. I don’t really care about what happens in the show as long as the characters are done right and I have high hopes for my lovelies.
I never know if I should read Daisy Jones or the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo first. Everyone loved those books, but I HAVE read a novella by the author and it was really well done.
Also, OBVIOUS YES for Ben Barnes and Sam Claflin always.
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Ahh I have heard SO much about Patrick Ness’ books, now that The Knife of Never Letting Go is being made into a movie I may be even more motivated to start! Oh yes yes! I’m incredibly excited for the Shadow and Bone adaptation too though I have to start the trilogy soon haha! Thanks for sharing!
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I have a couple friends who absolutely adore Patrick Ness. I don’t think I have read enough by him to have that strong of a feeling, but I am very curious about the Chaos Walking series and definitely want to read them before the books. They are SUPER different to the movie though, be prepared for that!
I think I am going to skip out on the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Maybe …
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I am so looking forward to the Dig! The cast is superb, you are right. I am in minority here (or maybe completely alone!) but I am very sceptical about the new Dune remake. I was never a fan of the book and still have these deep nostalgic feelings for David Lynch’s film of 1984 (a box office flop, but still!).
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As I mentioned, I am a clean slate in terms of Dune, which is why I just have no expectations for it apart from what I saw in the trailer. We won’t know for sure until it releases, but maybe skepticism is good. Maybe that will make it more enjoyable for you rather than have it all hyped up.
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I can’t wait to watch DUNE – was so bummed out when they pushed it to 2021. And then Daisy Jones – OMG this is going to be so amazing. And the third movie of TO ALL THE BOYS I LOVED BEFORE – I adored the trilogy, and the movies are just too adorable. And then there is Shadow and Bone, I can already see a record in views :D, and the Mark Wahlberg movie looks excellent.
~ Corina | thebrowneyedbookworm.com
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I am glad to see so much excitement for so many of these releases! I hope we will get some great content this year, especially since my list didn’t even include 50% of the book adaptations we can expect haha
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SOOOO many great things on this list I am beyond excited about! 😀
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And my list didn’t even include half the adaptations supposedly releasing this year!
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I had no idea about the Daisy Jones and the Six adaptation! I enjoyed the book and I think it’d work great as a show. I can’t wait to read the Shadow and Bone series so I can watch the show! I’m also excited to see the last To All the Boys I Loved Before movie I enjoyed the others they’re so fun to watch. I was scrolling through the movies Netflix was planning on releasing this year and I found Moxie on the list, based on the book by Jennifer Mathieu. I don’t know anything about it – as for the others on this list I’m super excited about the Percy Jackson TV show and the movies Netflix will be making based on the Kane Chronicles.
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Oh yes, I remember Moxie now. An actress I quite like is part of that adaptation, but frankly, my list is nowhere near complete of all the literary adaptations this year holds haha
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