Good afternoon: In this edition of the IP Scout, we will cover:
Hot properties: spotlighting the week’s authors whose work is being adapted by major studios/production companies, and who have other novels with strong screen potential.
Bestsellers: the top authors from the top bestseller lists whose work is ripe for Film/TV.
Booker Prize Nominees: looking at this year’s longlist for the Booker Prize, and finding interesting novels in the author’s back catalog.
Games: in the wake of The Legend of Zelda getting a live-action adaptation by director Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and Sony, we have picked a game perfect for adaptation.
Hidden Gem: a spotlight on an unknown book that could make for a phenomenal film.
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HOT PROPERTIES
Book 1: Grady Hendrix’s We Sold Our Souls
Keywords: Film - animation, fantasy, heavy metal
Synopsis:
In the 1990s, heavy metal band Dürt Würk was poised for breakout success - but then lead singer Terry Hunt embarked on a solo career and rocketed to stardom, leaving his fellow bandmates to rot in rural Pennsylvania.
Two decades later, former guitarist Kris Pulaski works as a night manager - she’s tired, broke, and unhappy. Everything changes when she discovers a shocking secret from her heavy metal past: Turns out that Terry’s meteoric rise to success may have come at the price of Kris’s very soul.
This revelation prompts Kris to hit the road, reunite with the rest of her bandmates, and confront the man who ruined her life. A furious power ballad about never giving up, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Analysis:
Imagine an animated, music-focused film, like KPop Demon Hunters - but metal. That’s the potential with this adaptation.
In a similar vein to K-Pop, metal music has a dedicated following of fans who will show up for their music. The music genre has worked well in animation before, as seen with the Adult Swim series Metalocalypse. A key to that show’s success with fans was the endorsement from metal icons who lent their voices to the show - including Kirk Hammett, Corpsegrinder, and Jack Black. This project would have a far more sincere and fantastical tone, but would similarly respect the subculture.
A project of this scale would need a safe pair of hands to look after it - potentially Bob Persichetti, co-director of the first and third installments of the Spider-Verse trilogy. And the perfect score would have to be created by Trent Reznor - founder of Nine Inch Nails and prolific composer (Soul, Challengers).
Why it’s hot: Taking the extreme success of KPop Demon Hunters and applying it to the metal scene would produce a very successful animated film - especially combined with the work of Grady Hendrix, whose other novel, The Final Girl Support Group, is currently being adapted by Christopher Landon (Paranormal Activity).
Book 2: Alex Michaelides’s The Maidens
Keywords: Series - murder mystery, dark academia, secret society
Synopsis:
Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this, Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike - particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.
Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member is found murdered in Cambridge.
Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld?
Analysis:
This gripping, gothic murder mystery brings to mind the Robert Langdon film trilogy (The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Inferno) in the way it mixes crime with ancient lore. In the place of Christian mysticism is the Ancient Greek mythos, currently seeing a resurgence of interest due to Nolan’s The Odyssey.
The audience for this property would similarly be fans of the “dark academia” genre, which explores academic institutions and studies with complex undertones - works in this genre include Mona Lisa Smile starring Julia Roberts and Dead Poets Society.
His novel was previously under option with Stone Village Television to be developed with Miramax. The development of this work into a series seemed to be the objective, which I believe is the best way to adapt this work - each section of the mystery being revealed episode-by-episode.
Why it’s hot: Murder mysteries are not slowing down, with Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building being renewed for a 6th season - and for new material with a dark academia twist, Michaelides is a strong bet; especially as Sony Pictures, Annapurna (American Hustle), and Brad Pitt’s Plan B (F1) are adapting his other novel, The Silent Patient.
Book 3: Lynn Painter’s Happily Never After
Keywords: Film - rom-com, light-hearted, weddings
Synopsis:
When Sophie finds out right before getting married that she’s been cheated on (again!), it’s time for drastic action. Instead of calling the wedding off, she hires a gorgeous stranger – Max – to interrupt the ceremony and confront her fiancé. Sophie enjoys taking revenge. So, when Max asks if she’ll work with him to help others expose their cheating partners, Sophie agrees. When they’re hired by a man who’s marrying the girl that once broke Max’s heart, Sophie expects Max to revel in the job. But instead, he seems to be wrestling with his feelings for his ex. And worse than that, Sophie is jealous…
Analysis:
This fun rom-com follows in the footsteps of many wedding-centered films in the last few years, such as Anyone But You and Palm Springs (minus the time-travel). The setting has always been a favorite, and a potential film that strikes the right balance between romance, fun, and clever writing could become a timeless favorite like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Made of Honor, and 27 Dresses.
To make a great rom-com, you not only need a lead couple that has great chemistry, but also to bring the joy. For this, I would cast Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value, The Great) and Steven Yeun (Minari, Nope), two actors who can be warm and tender, but also bring the chaos when needed (with Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Beef, respectively). I can imagine the journey of them cooking up schemes, then falling helplessly in love.
Why it’s hot: For anyone who can successfully recapture the wonder of early 2000s rom-coms in the modern day, there is a great reward. Lynn Painter is a great choice when it comes to material, with her other novel Fake Skating being picked up for adaptation by Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) with Sony Pictures.
Book 4: Sarah Pinborough’s We Live Here Now
Keywords: Film - psychological thriller, haunting, mystery
Synopsis:
After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge. The house is gorgeous, striking - and to Emily, something about it feels deeply wrong. Old boards creak at night; fires extinguish; and books fall from the shelves - all of it stemming from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room.
But these things happen only when Emily is alone, so are they happening at all? She is still medically fragile. Freddie does not notice anything odd. She, however, starts to believe the house is haunted by someone who had been murdered. As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge.
Analysis:
This project brings to mind gothic haunting stories such as Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and Sky’s The Enfield Haunting, while also being reminiscent of psychological thrillers where the protagonists mistrust their sanity, such as Shutter Island and The Invisible Man.
If made into a film, it would sit at an intersection between thriller and horror - spooky, but not an outright jump-scare gore-fest - for the audience members who try to avoid the scarier films in the horror renaissance we are currently having. Many successful films before have struck this balance, such as The Silence of the Lambs, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and Gerald’s Game.
Why it’s hot: A psychological haunting film that captures the thriller audience that wants to venture into scarier territory. Pinborough’s other upcoming novel, They Say a Girl Died Here, is being adapted by Carnival Films for television.
BESTSELLERS
Book 5: Kristin Harmel’s The Sweetness of Forgetting
Keywords: WWII, romance, mystery
Synopsis:
At thirty-six, Hope McKenna-Smith is no stranger to bad news. She lost her mother to cancer, her husband left her, and her bank account is nearly depleted.
Now, Hope’s beloved French-born grandmother Mamie is drifting away in a haze of Alzheimer’s. But in a rare moment of clarity, Mamie realizes that unless she tells Hope about the past, the secrets she has held on to for so many years will soon be lost forever. Tantalizingly, she reveals mysterious snippets of a tragic history in WWII Paris. Armed with a scrawled list of names, Hope heads to France to uncover a seventy-year-old mystery.
Hope pieces together her grandmother’s past bit by bit. Uncovering horrific tales of the Holocaust, she realizes the astonishing will of her grandmother to endure in a world gone mad. And to reunite two lovers torn apart by terror, all she’ll need is courage.
Analysis:
This brings to mind a mixture of classic war romances like From Here to Eternity and The English Patient, with a lifelong delayed romance like the 2010 romance Letters to Juliet. This story, split partly in the dark days of war-ridden Paris, is a slow reveal of a mystery carried by the lead’s grandmother, but it is also a wartime love story, only resolved many, many years later.
The device of splitting time between the past and the present, with the modern-day character exploring the life of another, reminds me of Julie & Julia - a beautiful and unique story with a great narrative structure.
All these elements will create a film that is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, seeing the worst of what humanity is capable of while also witnessing the most wonderful love that stands the test of time.
Why it’s hot: A wartime romance mixed with a slowly unfurling mystery, this film won’t leave a dry eye in the room. Harmel is a very talented writer when it comes to WWII, with her most recent book, Meet Me in Paris, becoming a bestseller.
Book 6: Shari Lapena’s An Unwanted Guest
Keywords: Film - murder mystery, seasonal, ensemble
Synopsis:
It’s winter in the Catskills, and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing - maybe even romantic - weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge wood-burning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing.
So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity, the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.
Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead - it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something - or someone - is picking off the guests one by one.
Analysis:
Who doesn’t love a bloody, tense, and twisty Christmas Movie? Think Die Hard, think Netflix’s massive hit Carry-On. Did you check the Netflix view count on that one? It hit a whopping 172 million views. So yeah, this would be perfect for a holiday-season release.
And what’s more entertaining than a murder mystery? The Knives Out film series shows just how fun the subject of murder can be. Like Knives Out, the strength of this project will be in its ensemble cast.
Here is how I would cast a few of the characters:
Gwen Delaney: The protagonist of the novel, a war correspondent who is struggling with PTSD.
Cast: Rose Byrne - her portrayal of a tortured soul in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You would be perfect here.Dana Hart: A wealthy bride-to-be who is staying at Mitchell’s Inn with her fiancé.
Cast: AnnaSophia Robb - known for her younger roles, I believe she is about to get a career resurgence from the upcoming film I Play Rocky. Able to channel a sweetness but with an edge when needed - as seen in The Way, Way Back.Beverly Sullivan: An unhappily married woman looking for a way to escape.
Cast: Samantha Morton - she recently mentioned she hasn’t worked since The Odyssey, which seems crazy since her acting is wonderful! A fragility and fear of others, as deftly shown as Circe in The Odyssey, will lend to this character perfectly.
Why it’s hot: With a killer cast, this project would be perfect for a seasonal release in theatres or on streaming. A great choice for the murder mystery genre, Lapena’s other novel, Getting Away With Murder, is a current bestseller.
BOOKER PRIZE LONGLIST
Book 7: Emma Cline’s Daddy
Keywords: Film - drama, anthology, human relationships
Synopsis:
An absentee father collects his son from boarding school after a shocking act of violence. A nanny to a celebrity family hides out in Laurel Canyon in the aftermath of a tabloid scandal. A young woman sells her underwear to strangers. A notorious guest arrives at a placid, not-quite rehab in the Southwest.
In ten remarkable stories, Emma Cline portrays moments when daily life buckles, revealing the perversity and violence pulsing under the surface. She explores characters navigating the edge, the limits of themselves and those around them: power dynamics in families, in relationships, the distance between their true and false selves. They want connection, but what they provoke is often closer to self-sabotage. What are the costs of one’s choices?
Analysis:
This project would make a great anthology art film, taking inspiration from Damián Szifron’s Wild Tales, where the six stories are not connected narratively, but thematically by one emotion: rage. The ten stories would need to be cut down to, similarly, six or seven at most - picking the most impactful for the big screen.
This film would need to be directed by one person, someone wanting to experiment with narrative structure - potentially an auteur, for example, Joachim Trier. He is a master at familial ties (Sentimental Value), complex relationships (The Worst Person in the World), and characters’ destructive feelings about themselves (Oslo, August 31st).
Why it’s hot: A single-director-led anthology of all the complexities of human relationships in a similar vein to Wild Tales from a hot, current author, Emma Cline - whose most recent book is the Booker-longlisted novel Switzy.
Book 8: Elizabeth Strout’s The Burgess Boys
Keywords: Film - drama, family ties, homecoming
Synopsis:
Haunted by the freak accident that killed their father when they were children, Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their Maine hometown for New York City as soon as they could. Jim, a sleek, successful corporate lawyer, has belittled his bighearted brother their whole lives, and Bob, a Legal Aid attorney who idolizes Jim, has always taken it in stride. But their long-standing dynamic is upended when their sister, Susan - the Burgess sibling who stayed behind - urgently calls them home. Her lonely teenage son, Zach, has gotten himself into a world of trouble, and Susan desperately needs their help. And so the Burgess brothers return to the landscape of their childhood, where the long-buried tensions that have shaped and shadowed their relationship begin to surface in unexpected ways that will change them forever.
Analysis:
The complex dynamics of sibling relationships are hot right now, with Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother, Trier’s Sentimental Value, and the exciting Herzog production Bucking Fastard starring both Mara sisters. It’s the perfect time for The Burgess Boys to be adapted - a feature set around the tension of a familial homecoming (à la The Royal Tenenbaums) of a messed-up family who have nothing in common except their traumas.
The casting of the siblings is crucial to creating the dynamic at the heart of the action - for the two brothers I would cast Cory Michael Smith - who has a real talent for playing characters with cutting personalities, as seen in Saturday Night and May December - and Nicholas Hoult (Nosferatu, The Menu), who could expertly play the less dominant, beaten-down sibling on the verge of snapping.
Why it’s hot: Family dramas surrounding siblings are big right now, so it’s the perfect time to adapt The Burgess Boys into a film. Also, Strout’s other book, The Things We Never Say, is Booker Prize longlisted.
GAMES
Property 9: American McGee’s Alice: Madness Returns
Keywords: Film - dark, gothic, fantasy
Synopsis:
Follows Alice Liddell, a young woman suffering from trauma caused by the death of her family in a fire. Alice was discharged from a psychiatric clinic and now lives in an orphanage for mentally traumatized orphans under the care of Dr. Angus Bumby. To get rid of the trauma and learn the truth about her past, she once again falls into Wonderland, where a new evil force has corrupted it.
Analysis:
This game is iconic. It’s a rare case where the sequel outshines the original. A gothic fever dream that takes the beloved Lewis Carroll novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and twists it into something disturbing, creepy, and fun.
As a film, I can see this becoming an incredible tour de force among older fans and young newcomers alike - especially with fans of other spooky TV shows such as Netflix’s Wednesday or The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Though an animation could work, I think the previous two examples argue the case for this project being live action.
This film, which is a 2010s fever dream, needs to stick to its roots. Stylistically, I can see it being similar to Repo! The Genetic Opera, a cult classic that came out in 2008 and oozed underground goth aesthetics. I can also see similar themes to Suckerpunch, with a protagonist in an asylum switching between reality and fantasy.
As for Alice, an iconic role demanding the perfect choice, I believe a talented up-and-comer would be perfect. Enter: Saura Lightfoot-Leon, who wowed as Maria in Luna Carmoon’s Hoard as a girl dealing with the emotional fallout of her troubled upbringing.
HIDDEN GEM
Book 10: Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon
Keywords: Animated Film - fantastical, alternate worlds, a journey
Synopsis:
On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it.
Most will see only a cozy ramen restaurant. And just the chosen ones – those who are lost – will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.
Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen, and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike other customers. For he offers help, instead of seeking it.
Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice – through rain puddles, hitching rides on paper cranes, across the bridge between midnight and morning, and through a night market in the clouds.
But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own – and risk making a choice she will never be able to take back.
Analysis:
This fantastical story is very Ghibli-esque, with notes of The Cat Returns and Spirited Away in its inclusion of alternate worlds. A family-friendly film with mature enough explorations of the self that adults will understand it on a deeper level. Although it would be wonderful for this story to become a Ghibli piece, it is more reasonable to imagine it finding a home with a smaller animation director.
Kenji Kamiyama is an animation director who is well-versed in fantasy, as shown by his two latest works, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim and Napping Princess. He also started his career working as a background artist on productions such as Kiki’s Delivery Service. With him at the helm, I’m sure something magical could be adapted.
See you next week!
Written by Molly Wise.
For consulting and/or advertising opportunities email clarke.scott@theindustry.co