Books that should totally be made into movies (but haven't been yet)

Or maybe mini-series like Game of Thrones... The other thread about unfilmable books reminded me of several books that would have made pretty amazing movies or mini-series: "Pandora's Star" and "Judas Unchained" by Peter F. Hamilton would make a great HBO sci-fi series (like Battlestar Galactica). It'd be expensive, but really great. I think "American Gods" would make a good movie too... I heard they were trying, but nothing was happening just yet. What other books really need to be turned into movies or HBO/cable series?

• Donna Tartt's The Secret History.

• Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman.

• Still waiting for them to do something with The Dreyfus Affair...no A-list actor is willing to put his career on the line and star in a gay interracial love story with pro baseball as its backdrop. But it was a very entertaining book. The author, Peter Lefcourt, was looking for someone to make a film out of it, but no luck.

  http://www.amazon.com/The-Dreyfus-Affair-Love-Story/dp/0060975598

• At Swim, Two Boys

• Have they filmed "The Lovely Bones"?

• Yes, R5... which only proves it seems to belong in the other list, of movies that are unfilmable (even if they tried).

• I was coming in here to say the same book, R3. It's hysterical.

• [quote]I think "American Gods" would make a good movie too... I heard they were trying, but nothing was happening just yet. At last report, Tom Hanks' production company was pitching it to HBO as a series. I think that's a much better format for it.

  The Voice of the Night

• It really is a great book, R7. Don't know who'd play the lead. Don't want James Franco, though I know he'd go for it.

  R3

• I would love to see the Harry Potter Series redone as a mini-series with at least two hours devoted to each book. This time with all of the more adult themes fully present. I think it would be interesting to see it done, knowing the outcome in the end. Dumbledore could be gayed- up a little. Snape could be paid more attention too. etc. etc.

• They could perhaps not screw with the ages of James and Lilly Potter, Sirius, and Snape too much. I'm not taking anything away from Alan Rickman's performance, but he was too damned old.

  The Voice of the Night

• I don't get it, R10. What would be the point of that if you want it to be even shorter than the movies?

• The Magicians and The Magician King would make a great series. But I really want to see a film version of Clive Barker's The Thief of Always.

• Agreed r11. r12, most the movies were not 2 hours long. But 3 hours would be good too- just something more thorough. Whatever.

• The entire Mayfair Family books should be made into a TV series. There's about 3 or 4 books to draw material from and cast of hundreds. Several generations as well.

• The Book of Revelations. The mother of all Oscar winners, if done properly.

• Suggested title for R3's 'The Dreyfus Affair': Brokebat Mountin'

  Who%27s%20on%20first%3F

• [quote][R12], most the movies were not 2 hours long. Every single Harry Potter movie was longer than 2 hours. By a significant amount. I men, if you're going to turn it into a series, I would think it would make sense to expand the running time and include MORE of what's in the book. Not less.

• Mine!

  The%20Irreversible%20Decline%20of%20Eddie%20Socket%3B%20and/or%2C%20What%20I%20D

• [quote] I men, if you're going to turn it into a series, I would think it would make sense to expand the running time and include MORE of what's in the book. Not less. yeah. We need more films for kids

• I always thought Caleb Carr's "The Alienist" would make a great film.

  Anon

• R21 - Good book. Who would play TR? Matt Damon?

• Very clever r17. Gave me an evening giggle.

  R3

• Amazing, I died and everyone forgets about me.

  J.%20D.%20Salinger%20

• I'm a great admirer of William Dean Howells, the late 19th century American novelist and critic who was the greatest advocate for realism and also something of an armchair socialist. His favorite topic was exploring class issues during the Gilded Age and, as such, his novels are more relevant than ever. "The Rise of Silas Lapham," about a newly rich manufacturer who tries to crash Boston society, would make a great movie. On the other hand, "A Hazard of New Fortunes," about cross-class conflict in 1880s New York (and inspired by the Haymarket Square Riots and subsequent circus trial) would make for a great mini-series. Both novels feature a fantastic array of characters for a potentially terrific cast.

  http://www.feedbooks.com/item/57573/a-hazard-of-new-fortunes

• Salinger refused to permit a film version of his works. I presume his estate continues to enforce that wish.

• Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

• The Dragonriders of Pern books by Anne McCaffrey.

• [quote] Anne McCaffrey isn't she a rabid gay hater?

• Dorothy Dunnett's The Lymond Chronicles and House of Niccolo novels would make a great HBO series.

• The Last Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey. Beautiful story of a powerful gay mage. Book 1: Magic's Pawn Book 2: Magic's Promise Book 3: Magic's Price

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic%27s_Pawn

• r31, wtf is a "mage"?

• R19. Absolutely--especially Eddie Socket. Who would your ideal Eddie be?

• Is R32 retarded? Who doesn't know what a "mage" is??

• On the Road. There's a reason it took over 50 years to be made. Kerouac wanted Brando, they got Garrett Hedlund instead...

• Somebody who lives in the real world, r34, and not the World of Warcraft.

• Henry Cavill would make a beautiful Vanyel Ashkevron. And Stephen Amell would be the perfect Tylendel.

  Someone%20get%20me%20Warner%20Bros%20on%20the%20phone%21

• I love the President's Vampire books by Christopher Farnsworth. Highly recommend and hope someone in Hollywood is smart enough to make these into movies. Main character is Nathaniel Cade, and I would love to see Gale Harold play him in the movies. Happy reading!

  http://chrisfarnsworth.com/

• Beautiful Ruins, though I think it's been optioned for film already.

• They're trying to make "Ready Player One" into a movie... it COULD be great, but... I have concerns. I think "Red Shirts" by John Scalzi would be a good movie.

• Come on, let's give Hollywood some more good ideas (or at least give HBO a few)...

• Yes, but let's stay away from the vampires or zombies. That's done for another generation. I hope.

• Three books by Harold Robbins: Dreams Die First. At one time, Brad Pitt would have been perfect for the lead. He might still not be too old but wouldn't play the bisexual sex scenes. Goodbye, Janette. Angelina is definitely too old for the lead but would have been game for the S&M scenes. The Lonely Lady deserves a better film than the Pia Zadora mess from the 80s.

• Scalzi's "Redshirts" is up for an award (just nominated). I wonder if that would cause it to get any consideration for a movie... It'd be a great "Galaxy Quest" style spoof, only a little deeper.

• John Kennedy Toole's "Confederacy of Dunces"....has long been a candidate for screen treatment, but has never quite made it out of the incubator.

• "The Front Runner" by Patricia Nell Warren. This has been an issue for the past forty years.

  Pantsy

• Barbara Pym's Excellent Women and Quartet in Autumn would work well. Probably more for PBS.

• Guy Gavriel Kay's "Fionavar Tapestry" would make a great epic fantasy miniseries.

• Richard Wright's "Native Son" needs a good movie.

• The Devil in The White City - I thought at one point Leonardo DiCaprio was going to do this. Toby McGuire could be the murderer. A second for Geek Love. This is a great book that they have been unable to make into a film. Not sure why. The Alienist with Benedict Cumberbatch. I would see him in anything, he is the new boy Meryl.

• R21, The Alienist is my choice too. I'm surprised it hasn't already as it seems to be a good candidate for a movie. I wasn't crazy about the book but the mystery, thriller and gory elements of the book seem tailor-made for a David Fincher movie.

• I would love a giant BBC miniseries on Vikram Seth's "A Suitable Boy"--I think it would be a huge hit. I'd love to see some good film adaptations of Angela Carter's novels--they did a lousy version of "The Magic Toyshop" and a very good version of her short story "In the Company of Wolves," but I would love them to do a good version of her postapocalyptic novel "Heroes and Villains." I'd love to see a film version of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's first adult novel, "The Shadow of the Wind." I'm surprised they've not made one yet. I disagree with those above who want film versions of "The Front Runner" and Lev Grossman's novels. I could only read "the Magicians" but I found it a nasty book--the characters very so dislikable I could barely finish it. And I think "The Front Runner" is too dated--I can't see it being done except as a period piece, and I can't imagine what the market would be for that.

• I researched (mildly) and Geek Love was bought by Warner Brothers but never turned it into a movie. Maybe too weird and/or expensive. The Alienist was going to be a movie directed by Curtis Hanson, but it got shelved due to budget concerns and being too gruesome. The pair who do the modern Sherlock for BBC could adapt it and make it work.

  Jessica%20Fletcher

• "The Very Strange and Exact Truth", a coming of age story.

  http://neglectedbooks.com/?p=358

• Dan Simmons's "Hyperion" and "The Fall of Hyperion". I heard a film is in development, but I think it might be better as a mini-series.

• I think the time has passed for The Alienist. It was written before the flood of CSI type shit. We've reached a saturation point on serial killer movies. Plus it would be too much money with all the period detail.

• I think the period detail is why the Alienist should be made.

• It's not literature but I'm surprised no one has ever attempted a miniseries from "Flowers In The Attic" and its sequels. The 80s movie was terrible with all the most shocking elements of the story toned down or eliminated.

• Wool the omnibus 1-5

• Christian McLaughlin's "Sex Toys of the Gods" needs to become a cable series. A 90's novel about 3 twenty-somethings trying to make it in LA in the entertainment business. It's a little gay, a little straight and a lot kinky. The central sex toy is a 22 year old baby gay who defines dumb-hot trying to make it in the record business who finds love with the closeted husband of his pop star idol. It's tailor made to get Chord Overstreet off of Glee and out of his undies (where he belongs).