From Harry Potter to The Godfather, Lord of the Rings to Doctor Zhivago, James Bond to Schindler’s List—some of the most memorable and celebrated films in cinematic history started as books.
2020 promises to be a great year for film adaptations, and we’re here to help you prepare with this list of 8 books coming to the big screen next year.
Books Becoming Movies in 2020
Follow these 8 great reads from the page to the silver screen.
1. The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle was the second of Hugh Lofting’s Dr. Dolittle series, published in 1922.
It’s now coming to the big screen, with the help of a star-studded cast, including Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Rami Malek, Emma Thompson, Marion Cotillard, John Cena, Selena Gomez, Antonio Banderas, and Octavia Spencer.
Release Date: January 17, 2020
2. P.S. I Still Love You
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before won the hearts of audiences across the world when it was released as a Netflix original film in August of 2018. Noah Centineo and Lana Condor will be back for the sequel, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, but you don’t have to wait for a viewing party—you can read the second book of this fan-favorite series now.
When a boy from Lara Jean’s past walks back into her life, she finds her feelings split between this old flame and Peter Kavinsky. It looks like there are still a few more letters to be written!
Release Date: 2020 (Unspecified)
3. Call of the Wild
Based on Jack London’s 1903 book of the same name, Call of the Wild follows a sled dog’s journey during the Klondike gold rush in the 1890s.
Harrison Ford, Terry Notary, Karen Gillan, and Dan Stevens will lend their voices to the animated film adaptation of this classic adventure.
Release Date: February 21, 2020
4. Artemis Fowl
Based on the first two novels in the 8-part series by Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl will come to the big screen featuring Judi Dench, Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnel, and Tamara Smart.
The sci-fi series follows teenager and criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl II, who travels to Ho Chi Minh City to kidnap a fairy after finally confirming the existence of such creatures.
Release Date: May 29, 2020
5. Dragon Rider
Based on the 1997 children’s book by Cornelia Funke, Dragon Rider follows a young dragon who teams up with a mountain spirit and an orphaned boy to travel through the Himalayas in search of the “Rim of Heaven.”
The animated film version will feature the voices of Felicity Jones, Patrick Stewart, and Freddie Highmore.
Release Date: Fall 2020
6. The Devil All the Time
Donald Ray Pollock’s The Devil All the Time was released in 2011 and is now coming to theaters with Haley Bennett, Tom Holland, and Bill Skarsgard lending their talents.
Set in post-WWII Ohio and West Virginia, the book follows three storylines, including that of a disturbed war veteran, a husband-wife serial killer team, and a false preacher.
Release Date: 2020 (Unspecified)
7. Chaos Walking
Set for a 2020 release, Chaos Walking is the film adaptation of The Knife of Never Letting Go, the first book of the Chaos Walking series.
The book tells the story of Todd Hewitt (who will be portrayed by Tom Holland), a man who lives in Prentisstown, where no one’s thoughts are private. One day Todd stumbles upon a spot of complete silence, free from “The Noise”—but now that he’s found it, he’s going to have to run.
Release Date: 2020 (Unspecified)
8. Death on the Nile
Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel follows one investigator’s mission to find the murderer of a young heiress while on vacation on the Nile River.
The detective thriller will make its way to the screen with plenty of well-known faces, including Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Jodie Comer, and Letitia Wright.
Released Date: October 9, 2020
From the Page to the Screen
Great films are an important part of our popular culture, but many wouldn’t be possible without the books that inspired them.
Check out these page-turners before hosting your own viewing party with friends!
What’s your favorite book-turned-film? Share it with us in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 5 Classic Reads for Summer
- 10 Must-Read Books for Teens in 2019
- 20 Books to Read in Your 20s: Books That Will Help You Through Your Most Transformative Decade
- The 15 Best Beach Reads of 2019
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
