Top 7 Book Adaptations of 2014

by Helen Earnshaw | 16 June 2014

The Fault In Our Stars

We have already been treated to some fantastic book adaptations this year with the likes of 12 Years A Slave & Lone Survivor hitting the big screen.

And there are plenty more on the horizon over the second half of this year, and we take a look at the top seven adaptations that we are super excited about.

- The Fault In Our Stars - released 19th June

The Fault In Our Stars hits the big screen this week, and is an adaptation of the much-loved novel of the same name by John Green.

Josh Boone is back in the director's chair for the film while Shailene Woodley & Ansel Elgort take on the central roles of cancer sufferers Hazel & Gus.

This is not a story that is doom and gloom, as it is as much about first love and living life as it is cancer.

The Fault In Our Stars really is a touching and funny story, with two interesting and complex central characters.

Woodley really is full of enthusiasm for this role and film, and I can't wait to see how it translates onto the big screen.

- The Giver

2014 is another terrific year for sci-fi, and one of the standout projects looks set to be The Giver.

This is one of the sci-fi films that I cannot wait to see, as Lois Lowry's novel of the same name is given the big screen treatment.

In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.

The movie marks the return of Philip Noyce to the director's chair, while Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, and Alexander Skarsgard are just some of the great names on the cast list.

The Giver looks set to be one of the most interesting and compelling sci-fi films of 2014, and I can't wait to see this mix of established and new acting talents.

- Gone Girl - released 3rd October

We are going to be seeing two Gillian Flynn novels adapted for the big screen this year, Gone Girl being the most anticipated.

Flynn has adapted her own novel into a screenplay, while David Fincher is back in the director's chair.

This is the first feature film for Fincher since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, as he teams up with Ben Affleck for the first time.

On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing.

With the media spotlight on him, everyone starts to question if Nick killed his wife.

Flynn has already revealed that she has re-written the third act of the film, and I personally am looking forward to seeing just how different it is going to be from the book.

Affleck is back for the first time since Runner Runner, as he teams up with Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Scott McNairy, and Boyd Holbrook.

- The Maze Runner - released 10th October

We have seen plenty of young adult novels adapted for film in recent years, and The Maze Runner is the latest to get the big screen treatment.

The movie is based on the novel of the same name by James Dashner, while Wes Ball makes his feature film directorial debut with this movie.

The Maze Runner follows a group of boys, with no memories of their past lives, must escape a massive maze infested with deadly creatures.

A cast of established and emerging acting talent has been brought together for the film, as Dylan O'Brien, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, and Patricia Clarkson are all on board.

The Maze Runner is an exciting and claustrophobic novel, which kicks off a fantastic book series by Dashner. This could be the start of a great new franchise.

- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 released 21st November

Ever since the closing credits of Catching Fire, I have been looking forward to seeing Mockingjay - Part 1.

We may still have five month wait, but Mockingjay - Part 1 is set to be one of the biggest films of the year: it is already one of the most anticipated of 2014.

Jennifer Lawrence is back as Katniss Everdeen, while Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson and Sam Claflin are all back on board.

There is a big new addition to the cast list, as Julianne Moore is set to star as President Alma Coin.

There is no change in the director's chair, as Francis Lawrence - who directed Catching Fire - is now set to stay with the franchise to the end.

Katniss becomes a reluctant symbol of the rebellion, and a war begins to rage with the Capitol.

Mockingjay really is a tense, exciting, and devastating conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy, which is going to be split over two movies. But where are they going to end part one?

- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - released 12th December

I have been a huge fan of The Hobbit series so far, and I can't wait to see the epic conclusion to the trilogy.

Director Peter Jackson is set to take us back to Middle Earth for one last time, as war is about to commence.

The Desolation of Smaug ended with Smaug heading towards Laketown to destroy it... what does the future have in story for Bilbo, Thorin Oakenshield, and the rest of the dwarves? And will the complete their mission?

Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Luke Evans, and Orlando Bloom are all back - this really is one of the best ensemble cast lists of the year.

- Unbroken - released 26th December

Angelina Jolie is back in the director's chair at the end of the year with her new film Unbroken.

The movie is based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand, which chronicles of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War II.

Unbroken is only the second feature film for Jolie as director, and it is already being tipped as a major Oscar player.

Jack O'Connell will take on the role of Zamperini, while Garrett Hedlund, Jai Courtney, and Domhnall Gleeson are all on board.

Unbroken is already one of the most talked about films of the year, and I can't wait to see Jolie back in the director's chair.

Don't be surprised to see this waltz off with the Oscar at the beginning of next year.