Breaking Down Casting Choices for Highly Anticipated Book Adaptations (original) (raw)
Emma Myers, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley. Netflix(2);Columbia Pictures
Does the actor fit the book? Chalk this up as a question readers ask every time a new film adaptation is announced.
From Scarlett O’Hara to Bella Swan, Harry Potter to Mr. Darcy, the casting of well-known, well-loved book characters is a delicate art. For every actor fans embrace, there’s another they want to cast out. Author Lee Child’s Jack Reacher at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds was no fit for the not-so-towering Tom Cruise, for example.
Us Weekly is gearing up for these upcoming titles — three movies, six series — to go from the page to the screen, but is their casting up to par?
Keep scrolling to see which adaptations we cheer and who is being questioned:
‘The Chicken Sisters’ — Casting We Cheer
Hallmark
Who Wrote It: KJ Dell’Antonia
What It’s About: As rival chicken joints vie for cash on TV, Amanda fights a “soul-sucking fear” of being buried by bills.
Berkley Books(4) Emily Henry has officially taken over the rom-com book world — and she’s about to bring some of her stories to life on screen. Henry, along with Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company, announced in July 2024 that her novel Funny Story, which was released three months prior, would be turned into a […]
How to Watch: On Hallmark+ in September with the always relatable Lea Thompson, who is finger-lickin’ good as Amanda.
‘The Perfect Couple’ — Casting We Cheer
Courtesy of Netflix
Who Wrote It: Elin Hilderbrand
What It’s About: Snob Greer Garson Winbury “thrives on tradition, protocol and decorum” — until a murder capsizes her son’s Nantucket wedding.
How to Watch: On September 5 via Netflix, starring Nicole Kidman — because nobody does patrician cool better.
‘Three Women’ — Casting We Question
Columbia Pictures
Who Wrote It: Lisa Taddeo
What It’s About: It’s nonfiction; the writer telling real tales of female desire is mostly absent.
How to Watch: Shailene Woodley appears in the Starz series premiering on September 13, but the prologue and epilogue just didn’t reveal much about the author (renamed Gia).
‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ — Casting We Cheer
Courtesy of Joss Barratt/Netflix
Who Wrote It: Holly Jackson
What It’s About: “Irrationally serious” high schooler Pip buries herself in an old murder.
How to Watch: Available to stream via Netflix now starring Wednesday actress Emma Myers as Pip, who perfectly mixes tenacity and vulnerability.
‘Disclaimer’ — Casting We Cheer
Universal Pictures
Who Wrote It: Renée Wright
What It’s About: A manuscript detailing Catherine’s worst act shows up: “[People] have no idea what I’m really like.”
How to Watch: The show is set to premiere via Apple TV+ on October 11 with Cate Blanchett starring as Carol and proving that she has skill playing women who are hiding something.
Getty Images (2) Celebrities are just like Us — even they enjoy burying their noses in a good book. Several stars have shared their love of reading with fans by creating their own book clubs. Today host Jenna Bush Hager launched her Read With Jenna book club in 2019 and has recommended nearly 70 of […]
‘It Ends With Us’ — Casting We Question
SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Who Wrote It: Colleen Hoover
What It’s About: Lily believes “there’s a perfect man out there for me.” Her best candidate turns out to be abusive.
How to Watch: This book-to-movie adaptation will be in theaters on August 9 with Blake Lively leading the charge (and aging up the novel’s characters), but after seeing A Simple Favor, we find it hard to picture the actress as a victim.
‘Cross’ — Casting We Cheer
Keri Anderson/Prime
Who Wrote It: James Patterson
What It’s About: Brains plus brawn: D.C. detective/forensic psychologist Alex Cross “can intimidate, if [he wants] to.”
How to Watch: Watch Cross via Prime Video on November 14, starring Aldis Hodge as the smart and imposing — plus, magnificent in a turtleneck — title character.
‘Wicked’ — Casting We Cheer
Apple TV+
Who Wrote It: Gregory Maguire
What It’s About: The musical-to-be intros Galinda and complex Elphaba (“I don’t cause commotions — I am one”).
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Before becoming musicals, they were books. Broadway has taken inspiration from several novels, turning them into musical favorites over the years. The biggest surprise might have come when Angelina Jolie became a major champion for The Outsiders musical, helping to bring Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Broadway as a producer. “I feel so strongly […]
How to Watch: Part one of the highly anticipated movie hits theaters on November 22 with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo proving that pipes are all that count here.
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ — Casting We Question
Starz
Who Wrote It: Crockett Johnson
What It’s About: A boy draws his own adventure.
How to Watch: Watch the childhood classic come to life in theaters on August 2. When it comes to the casting, we don’t exactly reject Zachary Levi; we reject the premise. The footie-pajama’d Harold as an adult? No!