Every Single Book to Movie Adaptation for the Rest of 2019

You’ve got some serious binge reading to do before these films hit theaters. Welcome to MsMojo and today we’ll be counting down Every Single Book to Movie Adaptation for the Rest of 2019. For this list, we’re taking a look at all the movies coming out between September and December 2019 that are direct adaptations of popular books. We’re excluding “Cats” because, while it did technically stem from a collection of poems by T.S. Eliot, Tom Hooper’s film is based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage musical. “It Chapter Two” Release Date: September 6th, 2019 [U.S.] Like the 1990 miniseries, Andy Muschietti’s theatrical version of Stephen King’s novel was divided into two parts. Where “Chapter One” focused on the Losers’ Club in their youth, “Chapter Two” picks up with them 27 years later for a final round against Pennywise. Early reactions have been polarizing, with some saying it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the original. Critics generally seem to agree, though, that the film still delivers the thrills with an excellent ensemble, particularly Bill Hader. “The Goldfinch” Release Date: September 13t, 2019 [U.S.] Although Donna Tartt’s novel had its critics, “The Goldfinch” was a bestseller that won several awards, including the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. even named it 2013’s Best Book of the Year. So, you can see why Amazon Studios signed on to co-produce the film adaptation in 2017. Directed by John Crowley of the Best Picture-nominated “Brooklyn” and carried by an all-star cast, “The Goldfinch” is a tale of childhood tragedy, sins of the past, and hope for redemption. “Motherless Brooklyn” Release Date: November 1st, 2019 [U.S.] Author Jonathan Lethem made a name for himself with “Motherless Brooklyn,” winning the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. 20 years later, Lethem’s breakthrough detective novel is being brought to the silver screen. Edward Norton writes, produces, directs, and stars as Lionel Essrog, a P.I. with Tourette’s who sets out to find his mentor’s murderer against the hard-boiled backdrop of 1950s New York. Norton compared his adaptation to “,” which is sure to entice any fan of film noir. “Doctor Sleep” Release Date: November 8th, 2019 [U.S.] “The Shining” is one of the most intriguing book-to-film adaptations ever. After nearly four decades, fans are still analyzing the changes director Stanley Kubrick made to Stephen King’s novel. When King wrote a “Shining” sequel in 2013, we all wondered how it’d translate to cinema. Mike Flanagan aims to honor King’s book and Kubrick’s 1980 film, which is a tricky balancing act. If anyone can pull it off, though, it’s the director behind “The Haunting of Hill House.” “The Good Liar” Release Date: November 15th, 2019 [U.S.] Over 20 years after “Gods and Monsters,” Ian McKellen and director Bill Condon reteam for this adaptation of Nicholas Searle’s thrilling novel. McKellen stars as the titular good liar, who cons his way into the life of a wealthy widow, played by Helen Mirren. At age 80, McKellen could become the oldest Best Actor nominee in Oscar history. If McKellen goes all the way, he’d also be the category’s oldest winner. Keep a close eye on this one for sure. “The Rhythm Section” Release Date: November 22nd, 2019 [U.S.] Blake Lively has come a long way as an actress since “Gossip Girl” was adapted for the small screen. Based on Mark Burnell’s debut novel, “The Rhythm Section” features Lively as a woman who loses her family in a plane crash. Learning that this tragedy was no accident, she sets out to unravel the mystery and make those responsible pay. Director Reed Morano won a Primetime Emmy for “The Handmaid’s Tale” and this action thriller promises to be another nail-biter. “Daniel Isn’t Real” Release Date: November 22nd, 2019 [U.S.] Before even turning 30, Brian DeLeeuw exploded onto the literary scene with his psychological horror novel, “In This Way I Was Saved.” This film adaptation, entitled “Daniel Isn't Real,” received enthusiastic reviews when it premiered at South by Southwest last March. Patrick Schwarzenegger plays the eponymous Daniel, an imaginary friend who literally takes over a young college student’s mind. Coming from the producers of “Mandy,” “Daniel Isn’t Real” looks like another surreal, twisted, and beautifully shot descent into neon-lit insanity. The same producing team is bringing us “Color Out of Space,” an adaptation of a H. P. Lovecraft short story starring Nicolas Cage. “A Million Little Pieces” Release Date: December 6th, 2019 [U.S.] The only thing more absorbing than James Frey’s bestselling novel is the controversy that ensued. Marketed as a memoir upon hitting bookshelves, “A Million Little Pieces” turned out to be largely fictionalized. The Smoking Gun even called it “A Million Little Lies.” Given the book’s shady history, we’re not shocked that Sam Taylor-Johnson’s film adaptation wasn’t well-received at TIFF in 2018. For those who’ve followed this story since Oprah’s Book Club, however, the movie is bound to tickle your curiosity. “Little Women” Release Date: December 25th, 2019 [U.S.] Louisa May Alcott’s classic coming-of-age novel has been adapted so many times that you might be wondering why we need another. Well, when an Oscar-nominated talent like Greta Gerwig is helming the project, you immediately give it the green light! Gerwig has enlisted a phenomenal cast to portray the March family, including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep. Even if you’re well-versed in the story, we’re prepared to fall in love with “Little Women” all over again. “Just Mercy” Release Date: December 25th, 2019 [U.S.] If you were fascinated by “When They See Us,” you’re sure to make a connection with “Just Mercy,” another true story about a broken justice system. In his memoir, attorney Bryan Stevenson recounted his experiences defending Walter McMillian, a wrongfully convicted African-American. Destin Daniel Cretton’s film adaptation stars Michael B. Jordan as Stevenson and Jamie Foxx as McMillian. Although its wide release isn’t until January 2020, the film’s TIFF premiere date and Christmas limited release seems to spell Oscar contender. “The Laundromat” Premiere Date: September 1st, 2019 (Venice) In 2017, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Jake Bernstein published the book “Secrecy World,” a thorough exploration of offshore tax evasion and political corruption, as revealed through leaked documents known as the Panama Papers. Bernstein’s gripping novel provided the basis for “The Laundromat,” the latest film from Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh of “Traffic” and “Erin Brockovich.” Meryl Streep plays a vacationing widow who suddenly finds herself wrapped up in an underground society of fraud, drug trafficking, and – of course – dirty laundry. “The Personal History of David Copperfield” Premiere Date: September 2019 (TIFF) Of all the literary characters Charles Dickens created, David Copperfield might have hit the closest to home. Dickens drew heavily from his own experiences while writing his eighth novel, which has been adapted to film and television on several occasions. The last theatrical version was released in 1935. Although this story has been told time after time, “The Personal History of David Copperfield” should be unique interpretation with Dev Patel in the lead role and Armando Iannucci of “Veep” behind the camera. Before we get to our final book to movie adaptation, here a few honorable mentions, some of which haven’t locked down their exact release/premiere dates yet. “The Last Thing He Wanted” Release Date: TBA 2019 “All the Bright Places” Release Date: TBA 2019 “Earthquake Bird” Release Date: November 8th, 2019 “The Irishman” Premiere Date: September 27th, 2019 (NYFF) “I heard you paint houses” was the first thing labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa said to hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran. This marked the beginning of a friendship that would end in tragedy, as chronicled in Charles Brandt’s riveting book. This film adaptation not only reunites director Martin Scorsese with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, but also marks his first collaboration with Al Pacino. At the risk of sounding cliché, this is one offer that no movie lover can refuse.