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.
Aoife Hinds, Billy Howle to star in ‘The Ministry of Time’
The BBC announced Tuesday the leads for its upcoming time-travel series “The Ministry of Time.” The series will star Aoife Hinds as Sophy and Billy Howle as Commander Graham Gore, a Victorian-era polar explorer. Alice Birch is adapting the script from Kaliane Bradley’s book of the same name. Aneil Karia is set to direct, with filming underway in London.
“The Ministry of Time is a newly established government department gathering ‘expats’ from across history in an experiment to test the viability of time-travel,” a synopsis of the series reads. “Our heroine Sophy achieves a hard-fought promotion in the civil service, only to learn that her role is to help a time traveler acclimatize to the modern world as part of a top-secret Ministry program.”
See first-look images from ‘The Terminal List’ Season 2
Prime Video released several first-look images from Season 2 of “The Terminal List.” Based on the novels by Jack Carr, the series stars Chris Pratt as Navy SEAL Commander James Reece. Season 2 is based on Carr’s second novel, “True Believer,” where Reece looks for redemption and a new purpose after finishing up his list. The thriller will premiere on Prime Video on Oct. 21.
Darren Criss, Sherry Cola join ‘Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story’ cast
Disney announced six new cast members for its next offering in the “Descendants” franchise, “Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story.” The new casting includes Darren Criss (Jiminy Cricket from “Pinocchio”), Sherry Cola (Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove”), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie from “Aladdin), Hugo Ateo (Kronk from “The Emperor’s New Groove), Sean Yves Lessard (Lumiere from “Beauty and the Beast”) and Dan Bakkedahl (Yen Sid from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”).
This is the sixth offering in the “Descendants” musical franchise drawn from popular Disney characters, which were in turn inspired by well-known fairy tales.
“Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes,” a synopsis reads. “When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together—without heroes, without parents—using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.”
‘It: Welcome to Derry’ to return for second season
HBO announced Monday that the series adaptation of Stephen King’s “It” will be returning for a second season. “It: Welcome to Derry” follows a group of young people living in the mysterious Derry, Maine, as they’re terrorized by an evil entity that takes the shape of Pennywise the clown (Bill Skarsgaard). HBO announced the return of the series with a small teaser video showing downtown Derry in 1963. The year and photo reverses in time, stopping at 1935, at which point the image appears to blow up and burst like a balloon. It’s a possible reference to the Kitchener Iron Works explosion that happens in the town during an Easter hunt, killing dozens of children.
Several adaptations among Criterion’s November slate
Criterion announced multiple adaptations among its November blu-ray releases, including Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette,” which is set to be available Nov. 10. The somewhat anachronistic retelling of the French empress—starring Kirsten Dunst—is an adaptation of Antonia Fraser’s biography, “Marie Antoinette: The Journey.” The 2006 film also stars Jason Schwartzman and Rose Byrne. Also releasing Nov. 10 is Francois Truffaut’s “Shoot the Piano Player,” a noir thriller adapted from David Goodis’ book “Down There.”
On Nov. 17, Criterion is releasing David Lynch’s “Wild at Heart” and Sergei Parajanov’s “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors.” “The Right Stuff,” directed by Philip Kaufman and based on the Tom Wolfe book, will be out Nov. 24.
The Criterion Collection publishes classic and contemporary films with state-of-the-art restorations and special features.
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