Winter 2020 Preview of Films Based on Books

We are entering into the final stretch of the Oscar release season and Christmas will be upon us in just two short weeks, so what better time to see what books you need to read before seeing the new crop of films scheduled to hit theaters in the first quarter of next year. Maybe someone who loves you will get these books for you as a Christmas present!

As before, this is the list of films coming out in January through March of next year that are based on books or other printed material such as comics or newspaper/magazine articles. Most of the films this time around are based on books, but we do have two comic adaptations in the mix.

For these films, the span of authors and genres is wide, as it was this fall. There are a few classics by authors including Hugh Lofting, Henry James, Jack London, and Jane Austen. Several films bring big stars back to the screen including Robert Downey Jr., Margot Robbie, and Harrison Ford.

I have included links to Amazon where you can purchase the materials referenced along with links to WorldCat which allows you to search a local library near you. The Amazon links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage of what you pay for them, but it doesn't change what you pay. Libraries are free, but you might have to pay a small hold fee if your library has a hold program. The links on the film titles themselves are for trailers where available.

---

January 2020

• The Informer - Based on the book Three Seconds by Anders Roslund. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Just Mercy - Based on the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Three Christs - Based on the book The Three Christs of Ypsilanti by Milton Rokeach. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Dolittle - Based on the character introduced by Hugh Lofting in The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• The Turning - Based on the classic Henry James novella The Turn of the Screw. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Color Out of Space - Based on the short story "The Colour Out of Space" by H. P. Lovecraft. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Gretel & Hansel - Based on the classic fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• The Rhythm Section - Based on the Mark Burnell novel The Rhythm Section. (Amazon) (WorldCat)

February 2020

• Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) - Based on the character from the DC comics and the Birds of Prey series. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Bloodshot - Based on the comic character Bloodshot. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• The Call of the Wild - Based on the Jack London classic The Call of the Wild. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Emma - Based on the Jane Austen classic Emma. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• The Invisible Man - Based on the H. G. Wells classic The Invisible Man. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Wendy - Based on the characters from the J. M. Barrie novel Peter Pan. (Amazon) (WorldCat)

March 2020

• The Burnt Orange Heresy - Based on the book The Burnt Orange Heresy by Charles Willeford. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• First Cow - Based on the novel The Half Life by Jonathan Raymond. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Hope Gap - Based on the play The Retreat from Moscow by William Nicholson. (Amazon) (WorldCat)
• Mulan - Based on the Chinese folktale The Ballad of Mulan. (Amazon) (WorldCat)