At one point, Johnny Depp was in talks to play famous magician Harry Houdini in a film based on the 2007 biography, The Secret Life of Harry Houdine.

Another film based on a different book that features Houdini may make it to the screen first. STX Entertainment has acquired film rights to David Jaher’s first book, The Witch of Lime Street: Séance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World (PRH/Crown; BOT; OverDrive Sample).

About Houdini’s showdowns with a famous Boston medium of the time, it got a glowing review from NPR calling it “spellbinding” and saying that “Jaher writes with a novelist’s panache,” has a wonderful “poetic sympathy and journalistic distance,” and “exhibits a what-the-hell candor that makes [the book] a page-turner.” The Wall Street Journal was also enthusiastic.

Echoing the reviewers’ assessments, the president of STX says in a press release quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, “Quite a few producers and studios were pursuing rights to this book for very good reason … this is a spellbinding and exciting true story.”

It may seem crazy to open a movie today, debut day for Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuts, but the studios hope there will be audiences looking for different fare. For kids, theres Alvin and the Chipmunks The Road Chip (see our listing for tie-ins) and for comedy fans, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler play Sisters.

It’s also an ideal time to release movies with Oscar buzz, barely within the deadline late enough to be fresh in the Academy’s mind. Two such movies open today, both adaptations [CORRECTION: We jumped the gun on both of these films, 45 Years opens on Wed. Dec. 23 and The Revenant opens in limited released on Friday, Dec. 25]:

45 Years, an adaptation of David Constantine’s short story “In Another Country,” was just selected by The Guardian as #1 on their list of the 50 best films of 2015 in the UK . Stars Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay already won best actress and actor awards at  the Berlin International Film Festival. The movie explores what happens when a long-buried secret shakes up a 45-year-long happy marriage and is getting kudos for daring to feature older actors.

The story it is based on is in the collection, In Another Country, (Biblioasis, June, 2015).

Opening in limited number of theaters on Dec. 25, expanding to more on Jan. 8,  is The Revenant starring Tom Hardy and Leonardo DiCaprio, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman).

Early preview screenings brought a shiver of internet excitement when the Drudge Report claimed that the movie contains scenes of Leonardo DiCaprio being raped by a bear (unfounded, although the process of filming the movie has been described as “a living hell“).

Based on Michael Punke’s 2002 debut novel of the same name, it is a vengeance tale set on the 19th-century American frontier, based on a true story, as The Tekegraph reports “Best served cold: the terrifying true story behind The Revenant.”

A tie-in edition is scheduled for Dec. 29., The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke (Macmillian/Picador; OverDrive Sample).

Laura Linney is in talks to star in an adaptation of The Dinner by Dutch author Herman Koch (RH/Hogarth), reports Deadline.

It was once reported that Cate Blanchett would direct, but it that chair will now be occupied by Oren Moverman.

A hit in Europe, the novel arrived in the U.S. in 2013 to predictions that it would be the next Gone Girl. Although it didn’t achieve that level, it sold well and was on the NYT Hardcover Fiction list for seven weeks, reaching a high of #7.

Linney has completed work on another book adaptation, Sully, based on Highest Duty by Chesley Sullenberger (HarperCollins/Morrow, 2009), who piloted an airplane to safety after its engines were  disabled by a bird strike.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks will play Sully and Linney his wife. It is set for release some time in 2016.

Will Tina Fey be able to find cinematic humor in the war in Afghanistan? At least one person thinks so, declaring on Jezebel that Fey’s upcoming movte Whiskey Tango Foxtrot “could be the first to succeed where other studio films have flopped.”

Noting that “The whole project is legitimized by the fact that it’s based on” Kim Barker’s “darkly funny” memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the reporter cautions, “I am still wary, since Hollywood is capable of making smart, nuanced stories into broadly offensive blockbusters, but hopeful—if any Af-Pak war comedy has a chance at success, it’s certainly this one.”

Once titled Fun House, now changed to Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, itmarrives in theaters on March 4.

The first trailer was released today.

Tiei-n:
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (The Taliban Shuffle MTI): Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kimberly Barker, )RH/Anchor, 2/23/16)

After last night’s final episode of Childhood’s End, adapted from Arthur C. Clarke’s classic novel, the Syfy channel gave viewers an early look at the pilot for The Magicians, based on Lev Grossman’s novel, which is set to begin  January 25th..

It’s not clear why they decided to release the pilot ahead of the series, but if they were hoping to build buzz through good reviews, that didn’t work out.

The fan site Den of Geek is the most positive, acknowledging that the pilot is overstuffed, but “With a number of paths towards mystery and adventure (perhaps too many) already established, there’s plenty of material to explore, both from the novels and this already quite different screen adaptation. Fans of the Grossman trilogy and of the fantasy TV genre are both sure to be pleased.”

Salon‘s reviewer notes that the adaptation “makes big changes but keeps the heart of the original books,” objecting that “it’s hard to not feel rushed through the pilot  … Which is too bad, because the story of The Magicians would be well-served with a little bit more time to breathe,” and concludes, “it’s a bit too early to judge the show, even on potential. The rapid-fire introduction of all of the characters and major plot drivers doesn’t do any of it real justice”

Entertainment Weekly’s reviewer hasn’t read the books, but spends quite a bit of time analyzing how the TV version relates to other books (the Narnia series, Harry Potter, The Golden Compass) and ends up giving the pilot a middling B.

The Wrap is the most damning;  “Imagine a horny Hogwarts and you’re on the wavelength of The Magicians, a somewhat intriguing, occasionally diverting, mostly just silly and campy adaptation ” — After only one episode, it would take a clairvoyant to know whether “The Magicians” will eventually develop into an agreeably dark and twisty piece of juicy genre fare, but at this early stage its future looks murky.”

Tie-in: The Magicians (TV Tie-In Edition) by Lev Grossman (Penguin/Plume).

The first trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, based on the faux Hogwart’s textbook by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic, published in 2001 and rereleased earlier this year) gives a glimpse of the world seventy years prior to Harry Potter’s arrival.

Planned as the first in a trilogy, the movie is scheduled for release on November 18, 2016. starring Eddie Redmayne as magician Newt Scamander, the “author” of the book. Also  in the cast are Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, and Katherine Waterston It is directed by David Yates, who was responsible for 4 of the 7 original Potter films.

The other movies in the series are planned for release in two-year intervals; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 (2018) and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3 (2020).

On Broadway, The Color Purple opened yesterday and is getting kudos from coast to coast. The New York Times calls it “a glory to behold” and the L.A. Times says it is “a spiritually transcendent theatricalization of the tale.” The latter review also notes that the production “relies to an extent on the audience having some understanding of the basic story.”

Fortunately, there is a tie-in, The Color Purple (Musical Tie-In) by Alice Walker (HMH/Mariner Books).

..
Two film adaptations open today, including Ron Howard’s long anticipated adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea.(poster at left).

Unfortunately, despite early Oscar buzz, Variety predicts, based on the overseas box office where it opened last week, that it will be  “one of the biggest flops of director Ron Howard’s career and will serve as a painful coda to what has been a devastating year for Warner Bros.” Reviews are not helping, exemplified by NPR’s headline, “There’s Entirely Too Much Melville In The Heart Of The Sea”

But unsuccessful movies sometimes bring readers to the books they are based on. The trade paperback edition has been rising on Amazon’s sales rankings,

Tie-ins include one for adults and another for young readers:

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex (Movie Tie-in),  Nathaniel Philbrick (Penguin; Penguin Audio)

In the Heart of the Sea (Young Readers Edition), Nathaniel Philbrick (Penguin/Puffin Books; Blackstone Audio; OverDrive Sample).

Another hotly anticipated adaptation The Big Short, based on Michael Lewis’s best seller he housing and credit bubble, opens in a limited number of theaters today. Says Variety, “Paramount will try to exploit the empty playing field this weekend by launching The Big Short, a comic look at the financial crisis, in limited release. The subject matter is dense, terms like collaterized debt obligations are bandied about, so it will fall to an all-star ensemble of Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell to bring in audiences. The Big Short debuts on seven theaters before going wide on Dec. 25.”

The NYT is much more positive, calling it “A true crime story and a madcap comedy, a heist movie and a scalding polemic, [that] will affirm your deepest cynicism about Wall Street while simultaneously restoring your faith in Hollywood.”

The tie-in edition was published a few weeks ago, The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis (Norton; OverDrive Sample).

Three TV events occur this week.

Hallmark continues its string of Christmas book adaptations on Sunday with Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow (RH/Ballantine), the story of two strangers trying to make it to Seattle in the holiday rush.

There is not a specific tie-in edition, but as we noted the book was one to watch when it came out this past October.

In a three-night event the Syfy channel brings Arthur C. Clarke’s 1953 novel, Childhood’s End, to the small screen.

A tie-in edition came out in October, Childhood’s End (Syfy TV Tie-in) by Arthur C. Clarke (PRH/Del Rey; Brilliance Audio).

About an an alien invasion, the take over of the planet begins Dec. 14.

Also coming from the Syfy channel is The Expanse, a new space-set series based on the Hugo and Locus nominated book Leviathan Wakes (which is the first book in The Expanse series).

A tie-in edition came out in early November, Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (Hachette/Orbit; OverDrive Sample).

The series begins Dec. 14.

Lines began forming for the 7th installment of Star Wars:The Force Awakens, as early as last Saturday, 12 days ahead of its Thursday midnight opening.

There’s is a raft of Star Wars branded products to occupy them. As the Seattle Times points out, this is the first Star Wars movie “from merchandise-driven Disney.” following their acquisition of Lucasfilm.

You can get Death Star shoes and even Star Wars mascara and, of course, a wide range of collectibles, introduced earlier this year. Lucas film president Kathleen Kennedy comments in brand-speak, “Star Wars toys have always played an important role in how our fans interact with the Saga.”

Several Force Awakens branded titles were released in September and a whole new set is scheduled  for release next Friday. However, the print novelization is being held off until January, to avoid spoilers (that does not apply to the eBook edition, scheduled for release the same day as the movie).

StarWars.com lists and annotates the books and PRH/Del Rey has a Facebook page for their titles, including the recent “official cover reveal” of Chuck Windig’s sequel,  Aftermath: Life Debt, May 31, 2016. For ordering information, check our listing of tie-ins (minus library-unfriendly merch. items, like sticker books and those that include light sabers).The title currently highest on Amazon’s sales rankings is Pablo Hidalgo’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens Visual Dictionary (Penguin/DK).

If you had any doubts, there will be more Star Wars movies. Wired predicts “You Won’t Live to See the Final Star Wars Movie” and JJ Abrams, director of the current movie, is touting Selma director Ava DuVernay for future iterations.

Other tie-in arriving this week follow the normal pattern of being pubished months in advance of the movies:

Snowden (The Snowden Files Movie Tie In Edition): The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man, Luke Harding (PRH/Vintage).

Oliver Stone is taking on the Snowden story in a film set for release on May 15, 2016. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as  Snowden, along with Shailene Woodley and Nicholas Cage. The script is based on Harding’s nonfiction account, which published as an original trade paperback in the U.S. in February 2014.

For a while there was a duel going on for film dominance.

Sony bought rights to Glenn Greenwald’s No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State (Macmillan/Metropolitan Books) in 2014 (see our story here on the rivalry between Harding and Greenwald). However, Greenwald’s own website reports, relying ironically on leaks from the Sony email hack, that the film based on No Place to Hide is likely dead in the water, quoting an email from a Sony executive as saying the Stone film “will beat our Snowden project to market and therefore ours is unlikely to happen … We ended up passing after seriously considering the project.”

A teaser trailer has been released:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Movie Tie-in Edition) by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith (Quirk Books).

The godmother of the mashup genre, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, finally makes it to the screen, beginning Feb. 19 in a film starring Lily James (Cinderella, Downton Abbey and the upcoming BBC adaptation of War and Peace) as Elizabeth Bennett and Sam Riley as Mr. Darcy.

As we reported earlier, many leading ladies have been rumored or announced, including Natalie Portman, Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Wasikowska and Rooney Mara.

The first teaser has just been released for Steven Spielbeg’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1982 childrens book, The BFG, (Macmillan/FSG YR). The movie is set to open on July 1 next year.

If the trailer reminds you a bit of Harry Potter (which Spielberg was offered, but turned down), you’re not the only one.

The movie stars newcomer Ruby Barnhill as Sophie. Mark Rylance, who just received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as Thomas Cromwell in the BBC’s Wolf Hall, plays the Giant.

Tie-in:

The BFG Movie Tie-In
Roald Dahl
Penguin/Pufin Books: May 17, 2016
Paperback; $7.99 USD
Audio tie-in, Listening Library

News recently leaked that Laura Dern and Shailene Woodley were being courted for the HBO series based on Australian author Liane Moriarty’s best seller Big Little Lies (Penguin/Putnam/Einhorn).

Deadline now confirms that Dern has signed to play Renata Klein, one of the three mothers at the center of the story. Woodley is expected to play Jane, a single mother whose son is accused of bullying, but that has not yet been confirmed, but seems certain since producer Nicole Kidman announced it last week.

The show runner is David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal), with Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club, Wild) set to direct several of the episodes.

Moriarty is scheduled to publish an untitled new novel in July (Macmillan/Flatiron Books).

Two of Moriarty’s other novels are in development, as feature films. The Husband’s Secret, (Penguin/Putnam/Einhorn, 2013), with CBS Films and  What Alice Forgot, (Penguin/Putnam/Einhorn, 2011)  with TriStar. At the end of October, it was reported that Jennifer Aniston is in talks to star in the latter.

The HBO series based on Liane Moriarty’s best seller Big Little Lies (Penguin/Putnam/Einhorn), now has another big name attached. Shailene Woodley is set to join Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon in the production, reports Variety, but the news seems to have been broken via a tweet from the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. Variety notes the deal is not completed. Since the source of the news is Kidman and she is a producer, it seems it is likely it will be confirmed shortly.

Nicole Kidman confirming Shailene Woodley for Big Little Lies at the HT Leadership Summit. pic.twitter.com/BUpIX0lQrG

— Lauren (@lfakier) December 5, 2015

Debuting in theaters today is a new version of Macbeth, with Michael Fassbender as Shakespeare’s troubled king and Marion Cotillard (Inception) as his wife, Lady Macbeth. The Guardian calls a “noir-thriller soaked with operatic verve.”  People magazine lists it as a pick of the week, “this gruntingly powerful version tells the tale with… coiled fury.” Entertainment Weekly lauds Fassbender’s acting, but ultimately gives it a B grade, because “the rest of the movie isn’t nearly as interested in playing as many nuanced notes as its star.”

There is no specific tie-in edition (image above is of the poster).

Premiering Sunday on the Hallmark Channel is The Bridge, based on Karen Kingsbury’s novel, part of Hallmark’s deal with “the queen of Christian fiction.”

A tie-in edition came out in October, The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury (S&S/Howard Books; S&S Audio; OverDrive Sample).

On President’s Day, 2016, we will travel back in time to 11/22/63, the date John F. Kennedy was assassinated, via an 8-part series based on the novel by Stephen King. Produced by J.J. Abrams, it will stream on Hulu and feature James Franco as a teacher going back in time to stop the assassination.

The first trailer was recently released. No tie-ins have been announced.

The movie is nearly a year away, but the first trailer for the live-action feature based on Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, (Candlewick, 2011) has just been released.

The growly voice-over is by Liam Neeson. The movie stars Lewis MacDougall (Pan) as a boy whose mother, played by Felicity Jones, is dying. Sigourney Weaver plays his grandmother.

The book is based on an idea by YA author and activist Siobhan Dowd, who died before she could complete the project (read Ness’s tribute to her in a sample from OverDrive).

A trade paperback edition with the words on the cover,  “Soon to be A Major Motion Picture” was released in August.

Come March, American audiences will finally get to see  a much-talked-about animated movie based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved story, The Little Prince. After it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, it went on to do well at the box office in France and several other countries and is now set to debut in a limited run in the US on March 18th, expanding to more theaters the following week. Directed by Mark Osborne (Kung Fu Panda), it features the voices of several big-name stars, including Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard.

As the new trailer indicates, the movie presents the story of de Saint-Exupéry’s 1943 novel through the eyes of a modern-day girl who learns about the Little Prince from her neighbor, the Old Aviator (voiced by Jeff Bridges).

Tie-ins have just been released:

The Little Prince Family Storybook: Unabridged Original Text, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
HMH BYR,  11/17/15

The Little Prince Read-Aloud Storybook: Abridged Original Text, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
HMH BYR,  11/17/15

HMH released a new translation of the original book in hardcover in October as well as several Little Prince board books,

Published last year, The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antione de Saint-Exupery, written and illustrated by Peter Sis (Macmillan/FSG/Frances Foster) was on several best children’s books lists, including the New York Times 10 Best Illustrated.