The pipeline from page to screen shows no signs of slowing. Here’s a quick look at the latest adaptation announcements, casting updates and projects in development.
Alicia Vikander, Aaron Taylor-Johnson to star in ‘Enigma Variations’
Netflix announced Monday that André Aciman’s “Enigma Variations” will be adapted as a limited series starring Alicia Vikander (“The Wizard of the Kremlin”) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Blood on Snow”). Oliver Hermanus (“The History of Sound”) is set to direct the series and Amanda Kate Shuman (“Carrie Soto Is Back”) will write and executive produce.
A synopsis describes Taylor-Johnson’s Paul as “a man remade by the lovers who ignite and undo him across six transformative years.” Vikander will play Claire.
“It’s an intimate yet sweeping portrait of masculinity, sexuality and modern love—and in a world of endless choices, it asks the question: Will we know when we’ve found the one?”
Aciman’s “Call Me by Your Name” was adapted in 2017 in a film starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.
Peter Portelli’s novel ‘The Order’ to be adapted
Writer Stephen Poliakoff is set to adapt Peter Portelli’s novel “The Order,” organizers of the Mediterrane Film Festival announced Monday. Arrangements for the adaptation were worked out amid the festival, which ran June 21-28.
A synopsis of the story described it as “an ambitious eight-part political thriller set in the months leading up to and during the Great Siege of Malta” in 1565. The series will be developed and produced by Little Island and Hopefield along with the Malta Film Commission.
‘Night and Day’ awarded at Mediterrane Film Festival
Haley Bennett won Best Performance at the Mediterrane Film Festival in Malta for her role in “Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day.” She played Katharine Hilbery in the adaptation of Woolf’s 1919 novel. She’s a young woman who dreams of being an astronomer but is hampered by societal expectations of marriage and a woman’s role in life.
Bennett (“The Girl on the Train”) is joined on the cast by Jennifer Saunders (“The Magic Faraway Tree”), Timothy Spall (“Hamlet”), Jack Whitehall (“Good Omens”) and Elyas M’Barek (“The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones”). Tina Gharavi directed and Justine Waddell wrote the screenplay. The film was released June 19 in Britain but has no release date set for the United States yet.
Krysten Ritter to return for ‘Dexter: Resurrection’
She may have been killed off in Season 1, but Krysten Ritter is returning for the second season of “Dexter: Resurrection,” Deadline reported Monday. Ritter (“Jessica Jones”) confirmed the news in an Instagram post. There have been no details on the role she’ll play. Over the past several weeks there have been multiple casting announcements, including Dan Stevens (“Beauty and the Beast”), who will play the Five Borough Killer, and Brian Cox (“Penny Dreadful”) as the New York Ripper.
The revival of “Dexter,” starring Michael C. Hall (“The Crown”) and created by Clyde Phillips, is based on Jeff Lindsay’s series of books about the serial killer.
‘#I’m Looking for Zombie’ releases character visuals
The forthcoming anime series “#I’m Looking for Zombie” released first-look character visuals for five characters —Aki (Nemoto Kyori), Natsuki (Lynn), Haru (Miyata Toshiya), Yuu (Yamamura Hibiki) and Sakura (Nukui Yuka) on Monday. The series is based on the Japanese manga series of the same name by Katsuwo. It’s a dystopian story in the wake of a mysterious infection that killed 90% of humanity, leaving survivors isolated in villages.
“Aki, who is part of a new generation that remembers nothing of the world before its destruction, sets out with her close friends Haru and Natsuki to leave the village in search of her missing father,” reads a synopsis translated by Crunchyroll. “The outside world, overrun with zombies, is vast and beautiful!”
The series, directed by Shinya Une, is set to premiere in October.
New cast, visual for ‘The Oblivious Saint’
Animation studios Magic Bus and Picante Circus announced casting and released a new visual for the forthcoming anime series “The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power.” The series is based on the light novel series written by Almond. The new cast includes Mitsuru Miyamoto, who voices Raymond, Kohsuke Toriumi (Nathan), Hana Tamegai (Iris), Hiroki Tochi (Eric) and Sayaka Ohara (Vanessa).
The new situational visual features the characters Theodore (Shun’ichi Toki) and Melissa (Inori Minase) holding hands in what appears to be a garden.
The series is set to premiere on Crunchyroll on June 30.
‘Witch Hat Atelier’ renewed for second season
The magical anime series “Witch Hat Atelier” will get a second season. The news comes just as the finale of the first season aired. There’s no release date for Season 2, but Crunchyroll announced it will stream the series.
“In a world where only witches can cast magic, they must avoid being seen by ordinary people while casting,” a synopsis of the series reads. “While Coco does her chores, she daydreams of becoming a witch. When a young witch named Qifrey visits her village, Coco uncovers the ‘absolute secret,’ becomes Qifrey’s apprentice and begins her studies.”
About the writer
Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development.
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