With the majority of the most anticipated movie releases of 2020 being moved to 2021, next year is already looking quite promising. But there is something special about seeing book heroes coming to life onscreen, so add these amazing books to movies adaptations to your 2021 must-watch list as well.
To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Lara Jean
The cutest Netflix trilogy based on Jenny Han’s books is back for its third installment! If you enjoyed To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, log into your Netflix account on 22 January 2021 to find out what’s next for Lara Jean Covey and Peter Kavinsky (that is if you haven’t read the book yet, of course!)
Chaos Walking
Starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, this movie is based on Patrick Ness’s 2008 novel The Knife of Never Letting Go – the first part of the Chaos Walking trilogy. This has been in production for quite a long time. The first episode was originally supposed to be premiered in 2019 but extensive reshoots moved the date to 2020. Then the worldwide pandemic interfered. The expected released date now is 22 January 2021, though you still won’t find a single official trailer online.
Todd Hewitt lives in a society where everyone can hear each other’s and animal’s thoughts. Even weirder, this society consists entirely of men! Supposedly, because a pathogen has killed all women. But one day Todd meets a girl in the woods, the first one he’s ever met. Her name is Viola Eade.
Without Remorse
The #1 New York Times bestseller by Jack Ryan becomes a major action thriller starring Michael B. Jordan as brilliant and efficient CIA operative John Clark whose girlfriend was killed by a drug lord.
The movie premiere is scheduled for 26 February 2021 on Amazon Prime.
Fatherhood
What is it like to lose your beloved wife and become a new father in one year? Find out from one of the most emotional and heartbreaking book-to-movie adaptations of 2021. Starring Kevin Hart as Matthew Logelin, the plot follows the first year of Matthew’s daughter Maddy’s life, while he juggles father duties whilst grieving the sudden death of his wife.
The movie is based on Matthew Logelin’s 2011 bestselling memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love and is scheduled to premiere on 2 April 2021. It was originally announced that Channing Tatum would play the main role and produce the film but he was later replaced by Kevin Hart.
Infinite
Mark Wahlberg plays Evan McCauley, a man whose hallucinations are actually visions of his past life, in this movie adaptation of D. Eric Maikranz’s 2009 novel The Reincarnationist Papers. Evan discovers a secret society whose members can perfectly recall their past lives. What happens next? Find out on 28 May 2021.
Just like with Fatherhood, the creators of this movie had to replace the lead actor. Originally, Chris Evans was supposed to play Evan but he had to drop the offer due to scheduling issues.
Dune
An epic sci-fi that will cover only the first part of the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. Duke Leto Atreides takes over control of the desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, “The Spice”, a drug which extends human life, makes you think ultra-quickly, as well as speed-travel. But power like that creates many enemies… Honestly, no matter how brilliant the plot is, all we needed to know is that Timothée Chalamet plays the lead role. He’s joined by Zendaya, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem and Jason Momoa. Thank you, see you at the movies!
The premier of Dune is scheduled for 1 October 2021.
Gucci
A story of the legendary fashion house, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci who was convicted of orchestrating his assassination? Yes, please! Other celebs to make an appearance: Robert de Niro, Jared Leto and Al Pacino. The movie is based on Sara Gay Forden’s book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed.
Expected release date – 21 November 2021.
The Nightingale
Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning star in the latest adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s 2015 novel The Nightingale that has been translated into 45 languages and remained a #1 New York Times bestseller for a total of 114 weeks. The movie is scheduled to premiere on 22 December 2021 and follows the life of two sisters who struggle to survive and resist the German occupation of France during the World War II.
Death on the Nile
Based on the 1937 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie, Death on the Nile is the sequel to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express, with many actors returning to play their roles, including Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh as Hercule Poirot.
It’s yet unclear when exactly Death on the Nile will be premiered – its already had the wildest history of supposed release dates: it was originally set to be released on 20 December 2019, rescheduled to 9 October 2020, then pushed two weeks forward to 23 October and again to 18 December 18. In November 2020, the studio removed the film from its upcoming release schedule entirely.
