Three months into 2023 and there are already announcements of new upcoming movies and TV series based on books. Since these exciting adaptations are coming out, why not be “the person who read the book first”? Keep on reading this article to find your new, perfect read for 2023.
Wonka (2023) - fantasy/musical
Roald Dahls’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic children's novel following Charlie, a young boy who gets the chance to visit the famous Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory. This is the type of book everyone should read once in their life no matter their age because it is funny, lighthearted and just what we need in these busy times. And if you’ve already read it, why not read it again with a cup of hot chocolate (while you’re reading about chocolate rivers) to get all the nostalgia.
There have already been 2 movies released about Charlie’s story: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), but now is the time for us to get Willy Wonka’s own movie. The cast of Wonka (2023) has already been revealed, and it is exciting to say that Timothée Chalamet will be playing our favourite chocolate factory owner. According to IMDb, the movie will feature a young Willy Wonka and how he met the Oompa-Loompas on one of his earliest adventures. Wonka is scheduled to be released on December 15, 2023.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) - action/adventure
The Hunger Games movie’s 10 year anniversary is on the 23 of March, and what better way is there to celebrate it by expanding the world with a new movie!
The Hunger Games book trilogy written by Suzanne Collins was an instant hit when it was released nearly 15 years ago. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, one of the tributes who must compete in the famous Hunger Games. In the trilogy, we get brief glimpses into the complex character, Coriolanus Snow, the leader of Panem at the time. A prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes book (published in 2020) follows Coriolanus Snow’s teenage years before he becomes the authoritarian ruler of Panem. This 400+ page book is like a rollercoaster ride where you’re rooting for your favourite, future villainous dictator.
The Hunger Games fans are excited because at the end of 2023, the movie adaptation will come out and we will get to see Snow (played by Tom Blythe) on screen. It will hit theatres on Nov. 17, 2023.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2024) - fantasy/adventure
Author Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series was the peak of teenage fantasy in the early 2000s. It is obvious to say that the PJ fandom has died down ever since the disappointing movies Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013). The book series follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson, and his adventures as he balances his chaotic demigod life. It is an easy-to-read series and very relatable.
Luckily we’re getting another adaptation, Percy Jackson & The Olympians (2024), as a TV series on Disney+. Rick Riordan has personally written the series and so we can then expect it to be a good adaptation. The casting of the movie seems promising because it will star Walter Scobell as Percy, who fits the role of Percy being a 12-year old. It will not be released until early 2024.
Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022) - romance/coming-of-age
Are you looking for a new summer read? Look no further, because The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy by Jenny Han is a lighthearted, romance, summer read that’ll have you swooning, giggling and maybe even mad? The trilogy follows 16-year-old Belly Conklin trying to navigate her life as a teenager while being stuck in a love triangle with 2 brothers.
Amazon has already released season 1 of The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022). Though the series is pretty different from the original trilogy, it is still a fun watch! Season 2 has been announced and filming has pretty much been wrapped up. We can expect it to be released soon in the summer. (Since the books are a trilogy, we can hope for a season 3 too).
Also, once you read the trilogy or watch season 1, ask yourself the question: Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad?
by Haya