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Adaptation Report: February 2026
46 Plays1 month ago
On this episode of BookWatch’s Adaptation Report: Chris, Jordyn, and Sarah-Daye hit some quick highlights including updates and drops for February and we dig in to updates for future adaptations including the HBO Harry Potter show finding its composer, casting for Disney’s live action Tangled, and much more!
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Transcript
Casting News and Adaptation Highlights
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello book watchers on this episode of book watches adaptation report we have major casting reveals and first looks that shake up fandoms from Sophie Turner stepping into Lara Croft Disney's live action tangle finding its leads Big book-to-screen moves dominate the industry with The Housemaid's Secret gearing up for production and Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere landing at Apple TV+. plus And a packed release calendar heats up February with major book-to-screen premieres hitting theaters and streaming.
00:00:33
Speaker
I'm Sarah Day. And I'm Jordan. And I'm Chris. And we will get started after these messages.
Introduction to Book Watch Podcast
00:00:48
Speaker
Welcome to Book Watch, the podcast where pages meet screens. Each week, we dive into the world of adaptations, comparing beloved books with their cinematic counterparts. From faithful retellings to bold reimaginings, we'll break down what worked, what didn't, and what made each adaptation unforgettable. Whether you're a bookworm, a movie buff, or both, grab your bookmark, grab your popcorn, and let's watch some books.
00:01:11
Speaker
Welcome back, listeners. We have a few updates and housekeeping things, but I'm going to start with a review. Yay.
00:01:22
Speaker
yea Okay, this is from Amanda Panda Panda, A-C-A-P. Such a great listen. I love how fun this podcast is, and it's great how the first episode is about the cast. I love that perspective. Thank you so much. Thank you, Amanda Panda.
00:01:38
Speaker
Okay, now a correction. Last news episode, we talked about Pride and Prejudice, which was going to be on Netflix, the newest adaptation. It's actually going to be on – I'm sorry. It's going to be on Netflix, not Amazon, that we we thought that it was going be on Amazon, but it's actually going premiere on Netflix.
00:01:56
Speaker
And another update we have is that Disney Plus has decided not to move forward with its whole sweet remake, which I think all of us think is like a really good idea. Yeah. leave leave it alone for now yeah we already talked about it like in our holes episodes but yeah was not excited for that at all so glad that they kind of were like we'll just change our minds and nobody has to deal with it yeah i feel bad for you know the girl that was cast as the stanley character but other than that very excited that this is canceled yeah
00:02:29
Speaker
Okay, so um before we get into our headlines, what are you guys reading and watching this month? What do we have to recommend to our listeners? um So I don't know if anybody follows me on social media, on Instagram specifically.
Book Clubs and Current Reads
00:02:42
Speaker
You might have seen me reposting Instagram Posts from Camp Valkyrie. So Camp Valkyrie is the book club slash workout club that I'm part of. um And we just finished our reread. Well, for me, was a reread for a lot of other people. It was their first time reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas.
00:03:02
Speaker
And now we are reading the Daughter of New Worlds trilogy by Carissa Broadbent. We're about halfway through that one right now. I really like it so far. um It's, you know, it's hard to follow up Kingdom of Ash from Throne of Glass because that book just like means so much to me and is like such a huge part of my personality and my life. So whatever was going to follow up, was going to be like, this is kind of lame compared to Kingdom of Ash. All that being said, it's really good so far. Daughter of No Worlds is really good so far. It's got a really interesting magic system. um
00:03:41
Speaker
And the like the main character is really cool.
Jordan's Take on The West Wing's Political Discourse
00:03:45
Speaker
And i'm im real I'm starting to kind of get into it more and more the deeper I get into it. But I like that one a lot. And then as far as watching, i binged Percy Jackson season two. um Again, watching now that all of those episodes are out.
00:04:00
Speaker
um I'm watching Fallout with my new husband. um That's really good. We love Fallout. Congratulations, by the way. This is our first episode with Jordan as a married woman. Thank you. Yeah.
00:04:16
Speaker
yeah And then we, after our honeymoon cruise, husband and I got sick and I discovered The West Wing on Netflix, which is an early 2000s political drama. Yeah.
00:04:30
Speaker
I really am enjoying it. I pay a lot of attention to politics and seeing like how different the political landscape was, you know, 20, 30 years ago, because this is set in like 1999 slash 2000, the first season is. um So seeing how different politics was 26 years ago is really interesting to me because I was like three years old.
00:04:52
Speaker
So baby thinking wow seeing how much like and nicer everybody was when we disagreed is like really interesting because now it's so like combative. Yeah, it's very different these days, like now being an adult and like knowing what's happening in the world around me. So yeah, that's what I've been...
00:05:09
Speaker
And then obviously reading and watching all of the things for this podcast. I'm going to start the book for Murderbot and start watching that. And then looking forward to his and hers because Jon Bernthal.
00:05:20
Speaker
Yes. yeah So yeah, that's what we're that's what's going on over here in in this household. What are you up to, Chris? Very cool. um My book club locally is going to be doing some short stories from ah the Bradbury stories. It's a collection of Ray Bradbury's sci-fi stories.
00:05:39
Speaker
And so I'm kind of interested to see ah what Which ones we end up pulling from that and how people feel about some of the older, some of his different sci-fi things out throughout. Otherwise, I'm about to start Mistborn here soon. ah I've got it now and we're just going to finish up a few of the ah books for next month's cast before I started on that one.
00:06:01
Speaker
just um about I read the first book that follows the Percy Jackson series, The Lost Hero, I just finished up, and so I got more in that series to finish up there, too.
00:06:13
Speaker
um And then watching, i am working my way through the old show the show that got picked up by Netflix at Lucifer. Otherwise, don't have a whole lot else I'm watching through right now. It's ironic the show feels like it's gotten more CW since it got onto Netflix. So I'm kind of you curious how that all wraps up. Yeah.
Chris's Reading Plans: Ray Bradbury and Mistborn
00:06:36
Speaker
I am watching so much right now. I'm watching Wonder Man so I can keep score for fantasy heroes. I'm also watching Fallout. We're also watching Night of the Seven Kingdoms and Shrinking just came out.
00:06:48
Speaker
So um lots of TV watching right now. I feel like I'm forgetting one of the shows that I'm currently watching. Oh, The Pit on HBO is the other one. um Luckily, like a lot of these are you know, weekly drops, which is convenient.
00:07:03
Speaker
And then reading, again, so much besides what we're reading. I'm going to be doing Mistborn with you, Chris. Brandon Sanderson, and we'll talk about this later, but my husband's favorite author. He's been trying to get me to read all of the Cosmere stuff for so long. um And then i believe my book club is doing atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins read this month. so I'll be reading that and my 12, 12, 12 pick. Well, I could probably just switch that out for Mistborn, but I was going to do wake me after the apocalypse by Jordan Rivett. um
00:07:40
Speaker
So yeah, lots of stuff on my docket right now. Yeah. You mentioned wonder man, wonder man was great. And I also watched the first four episodes of Bridgerton oh yes thank you I'm also watching that ah but that my husband is not watching that with me so I forgot tell him to get on it it's really good I've i've watched him all with my wife don't think that he will but I will try and best make the deal you'll read the Mistborn if he watches Bridgerton right I could do that yeah I i don't know. I enjoyed Bridgerton. It's been good. So we started ah Queen Charlotte today too. So, cause we haven't seen that show yet.
00:08:15
Speaker
So it's great it's my favorite season of Bridgerton ever. I love Queen Charlotte. Oh, I prefer to cry. All right, i'll keep and i'll i'll be ill I'll keep you guys updated on that. And yeah, i also finished Wonder Man, so that one was great. but And I got some good points for Fantasy Heroes from having Trevor Slaughtry on my team.
00:08:34
Speaker
I know. i'm only about halfway. i think I've done five episodes so far, so no spoilers, please. Okay, so we're going to move on to our patron picks.
Upcoming Podcast Schedule and Guest Teasers
00:08:45
Speaker
We talked about what we are reading, but now what you guys are going to read with us if you are a patron. In February, we're going do Catching Fire with you guys. Our Catching Fire episodes will release on March 6th, Part 1. And then in March, we're going to cover Project Hail Mary.
00:09:02
Speaker
And that episode will release on April 3rd, part one. So we're really excited about both of those, to cover both of those, and possibly have a special guest on both of those episodes. So stay tuned.
00:09:15
Speaker
And without further ado, let's get into this month's
Anticipated Releases and Adaptations
00:09:20
Speaker
releases. Listeners, I'm just going to run through what's releasing this month, and then we will talk about it if we have every anything to say.
00:09:29
Speaker
Part two of Bridgerton drops on February 26th with part one already streaming on Netflix. Can't get here soon enough. Literally. Wuthering Heights arrives in theaters February 13th starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Crime 101 based on Don Winslow's novella hits theaters February 13th with Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo starring. 56 Days adapted from Katherine Ryan Howard's 2021 thriller.
00:09:58
Speaker
will premiere on Prime Video February 18th, and the series stars Dove Cameron in Avon, Georgia. This Is Not a Test hits theaters February 20th.
00:10:10
Speaker
This is Courtney Summers' young adult zombie novel, which will be brought to the screen starring Olivia Holt. The Last Thing He Told Me returns for a season two on Apple TV Plus on February 20th. The new season will pull from Laura Dave's sequel novel, The First Time I Saw Him, with Judy Greer and Rita Wilson joining the cast.
00:10:34
Speaker
Yeah, that sounds... I don't know a lot of about any of those other than I think I've seen the trailers for Crime 101 quite a bit, and it looks like it's gonna be really interesting otherwise i may check out the fifty six days and the withering heights we're going to be covering and it looks like it's going to be really interesting. Kind of different take on it. so Yeah, I'm also not very familiar with any of these properties except for Bergerton.
00:10:59
Speaker
um I'll probably see Wuthering Heights just because like the... discord around it has been so great that I'm like I gotta know what the heck is going on here but yeah and I mean I'm not anti anything else the YA zombies sounds pretty cool um I really like Dove Cameron and a lot in pretty much everything that she's done so I'd be interested to watch that just for her um yeah I I these are all things that I'd like to say I'd get around to at some point but no promises on when exactly that will happen
00:11:34
Speaker
That's a great statement. I can agree with that, that like this all sounds like something I'd like to get around to at some point. um But, and there, I mean, these are all adaptations, so maybe we will one day. Agreed.
00:11:48
Speaker
You guys subscribe to the Patreon. We can quit our jobs and just drop new episodes every single day and just do nothing but reading and watching. Updates the hour. you guys have to help us do that. That is my ideal life, just watching TV and reading. i need you guys to pay me to read books and watch movies and shows and talk about them. That would be ideal. Thank you.
00:12:09
Speaker
All right, so let's get into some more news. The first trailer for The Odyssey dropped, giving audiences
The Odyssey Trailer: Excitement and Skepticism
00:12:17
Speaker
an early look at the epic adaptation. Initial reactions are already split between excitement and skepticism.
00:12:24
Speaker
i I kind of get that. I feel a little bit of a little bit of both on that one. I am excited to see what they do with it. It's such a big like ah world to explore and has so many different things based off of it. So I'm excited. But yeah, it it definitely is going to have a level of skepticism to it till we get a little more info. And even after it comes out, maybe.
00:12:47
Speaker
I'm all in on this. I cannot wait. um I definitely want to read the Odyssey. I'm so familiar with it, but i don't think I've ever sat down and read the poem, but I'm very excited. I mean, it's Christopher Nolan. It's got a stacked cast. I really can't wait. yeah I read through the Odyssey like my freshman year in high school, and I got 99% on my paper that I wrote. But after that, most of my exposure has come like via Percy Jackson and all of the Odyssey references in other media.
00:13:17
Speaker
So I would also like to reread it before it comes out, just so I can see. But I understand the skepticism about like the historical accuracy, and like I've heard some about like some concerns about Yeah.
00:13:40
Speaker
which i think is definitely a risk with the cast being so stacked but i'm still confident because all of those actors that we know about are so good at their jobs and they're such great actors that even if I look and I'm like, that's just Tom Holland, but he's so good. Like, I think it'll be okay. So I'm still leaning more towards optimism, but I understand the concerns for sure.
00:14:05
Speaker
And I think ah a story that's as famous as the Odyssey, like you need story. like presence. Yeah. And like, we'll see. And I think a lot of these actors are like you said, good at their jobs and hopefully we can get so into the story that we forget that it's these famous actors that we know and love and can, they can escape into their roles. And even if they don't, you can treat it like the, like it's a stage performance of the thing and just a really high quality version of the Odyssey being performed and you've got really good actors.
00:14:37
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. But Matt Damon played in Thor as that character too, and as ah as a as a mythical character. you know I think he can pull off this and i'll be I'll be with him either way. so Disney's live action Tangled has cast Tegan Croft and Milo Manheim in the lead roles.
Tangled Live-Action Casting Reactions
00:14:56
Speaker
Fans are already weighing in on whether this version can live up to the animated favorite. Tegan Croft is best known as Raven from DC's Titans, while Milo Manheim comes from Disney's Zombies and Paramount's School Spirits.
00:15:08
Speaker
I'm excited for this. i'm Tangled is my movie that like, if I just need to feel something, i put it on. And so my husband always knows like, okay, we got Tangled on, like, I gotta get her some chocolate, get her a blanket, like, snuggle her, like, do something. So I love Tangled very, very much. um I'm not familiar with Tegan Croft as an actress. I haven't seen DC's Titans, so I don't really know her from Adam. But she looks like Rapunzel, so that's that.
00:15:36
Speaker
um I am familiar with Milo Manheim. um As I've mentioned before, I work with kids, and the kids love the Zombies franchise, so i have seen every single one of them and all of their spinoffs. um And he like their Disney movies. So it's like kind of hard to judge somebody who's like true acting performance when they're doing a Disney ah Disney Channel movie. um But I have heard a lot about him and other stuff that he's done. And he's really well regarded by his fellow actors. And he I could definitely see him being a really great Flynn writer. I think he's going to be awesome in that role. So overall, I'm excited for it.
00:16:15
Speaker
I first met him, not met him, I first saw him in School Spirits, which is a more mature role than the zombies role. And I thought he was great. And I was like, who is this guy? I want know more about him. And then I discovered zombies through that show, but also because I had kids in that age range. And he was a top fan cast for this role. And I'm very happy for him to have gotten it. I think he's going to be great. um Raven,
00:16:44
Speaker
it's going to be hard to tell her, like she was good. um But Raven as a character is so different from Rapunzel. So it's hard to compare those two roles. But like you said, I think she looks like Rapunzel. So I'm very excited for her as well. And this, I'm so excited for this. I've always liked the live action adaptations. I know that they get a lot of hate, especially after Snow White. And it was like, oh they're canceled. And then Lilo and Stitch did so well and it's like oh they're back on the menu boys um but Little Mermaid and Tangled are my top two favorite Disney movies of course we've already gotten the Little Mermaid I loved that one so now I've been waiting for this one and I'm going to be bawling the whole time I just can't wait Rapunzel is one of my favorite I mean she is my favorite Disney princess alongside Ariel so I'm i'm super pumped for this
00:17:36
Speaker
I am curious how they're going to handle the story because in Leland Stitch, they did stick pretty close to just a screen adaptation. i mean, they did make some changes, but it was more faithful to the original than some of the others have been. Um, and it made, uh, how to train your dragon did amazing by literally just doing a shotfor shot for shot, you know, remake of a digital property as a live action, which was basically just a live action, uh, or animated CGI. So, um, I would love to see them keep the story pretty integral to what it was. I don't want to see them make too many changes to this because it is a great story. So, um, it's one of my wife's favorites. We've watched, we watched it a ton as well. So, and we don't even have kids, so.
00:18:19
Speaker
And I think they learned their lesson after Mulan cutting out Mushu and cutting out all of the songs. It really didn't do well at the box office and it wasn't well regarded. So I think they've learned their lesson too. And like the like lee you said, Leo had stitched it so well in theaters that – when they stick to the animated as close as possible, they're going to do better. So I'm anticipating it being a shot for shot remake. yeah be great I hope so. I think for me, like as far as casting goes, the real make or break is going to be who they put as mother Gothel. The biggest fan cast that I've seen is Catherine Han. And I think she'd be absolutely perfect in that role. um ah we've also heard some rumors that it might be scar joe don't love that nearly as much like read scar joe's great i love scar joe not as a mother gothel i just like because she's gonna sing i don't know how much of a singer scarlett johansson is and even then like she's actually a big singer she's sung in a lot of roles um okay have you seen the movie sing animated movie sing oh yeah
00:19:23
Speaker
She's one of those characters. And then she was also the snake in Jungle Book. double yeah yeah yeah okay I still like Catherine Han better for the role. um I think she looks like her. like yeah know There's nobody better. Catherine Han is Mother Gothel. I agree. cannot be So that that to me is going to be like the big make or break thing where if we get a really good Mother Gothel, then for me at least, even if they do change some of the story, i could still be okay if if the cast is really, really good and they act it really well. But if I get a less than ideal choice for Mother Gothel and they change the story, i'm going to be upset for sure.
00:20:00
Speaker
What about the queen? Would you put ScarJo into that role if they changed the story a little bit and gave her some sure performance? nope Nope. Nope. Nope. Queen and King need to be Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, who were the original voice yeah cast for Rapunzel and Flynn Wright. Zachary Levi almost canceled. Yeah. I know that is the issue. issue That is a small, small issue. But I don't see them not. be Okay. Every live action has had the passing of the torch, if you will. So I don't see Mandy Moore not being in it. And I think the queen is a really good role for her yeah to play. Yeah. Even if they just got her to be the queen, I think that would be really nice.
00:20:41
Speaker
That's right. Mm hmm. A first look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft has been released. The reveal has sparked comparisons to past versions and questions about how this reboot will differentiate itself.
Sophie Turner as Lara Croft: A Fresh Take?
00:20:54
Speaker
I think it sounds like I think she will play the role well. I think it's going to looks like it's going to be really good. i have enjoyed what they've been doing with the animated ah series that I think it was Netflix got out of a with. um What's her name? The gal who played Peggy Carter.
00:21:13
Speaker
Oh, really? And she would have been a really good. Yeah. Haley Atwell was the. ah Lara Croft in that animated series, and that's been really good. But I think that a younger actress and Sophie Turner and everything she can bring to the role will be really fun.
00:21:27
Speaker
I was really shocked when I first heard the news that she was going to be Lara. But after seeing this first look, I think she looks so good. So between the acting that I know she can do from Game of Thrones and now seeing her in the role, I'm really excited for this. yeah She's got some big shoes to fill, though. The last person in this role was Angelina Jolie, right?
00:21:46
Speaker
No, they did do that other one, the 2018 with the gal who, what was her name? And it was based on the newer video game. Right. So it was a closer. Respectfully, I think that says enough about that version. So that version, what i what i I actually really enjoyed it because if they'd continued the story, it it set up all the groundwork to be really good.
00:22:10
Speaker
But they stopped because people criticized it. If they'd actually kept the story going, it had all the like layers to make a really great second and third and fourth movie. But they stopped and said, OK, we're done.
00:22:24
Speaker
Alicia Vikander. And yeah, she was fine in the role. She did well as like basically that video game character. She did, you know, she looked more like the video, the character in the video game. She performed the role well with those same, like, you know, ah elements of learning to be this hero instead of being the person who was brought in as, oh yeah, I have all these skills already yeah in the video You have to build up your skills. Okay. Yeah, i we love the queen in the north um whose name is Stark, and so I'm excited to see her. ah
00:22:55
Speaker
i'm not i don't have any like attachment to Lara Croft because I don't remember that 2018 version. So sorry to Miss Alicia Vikander. Have you played any of the games, that the newer ones? No.
00:23:05
Speaker
They're all really literally I've seen some parts of the Angelina Jolie movies, and that's literally it. So I'm coming in like... total clean slate basically so i love sophie turner again from game thrones so i'll definitely check this out and see it and then who knows maybe then i'll turn into a super big gamer and play all play all the laura croft games we'll just play them all together online we'll just we'll do a stream we'll just go through each of us i'll play a section and we'll pass the torch and we'll just go through it and play the the you know 50 hours of video games that we have that or whatever it is
00:23:43
Speaker
I'm not a huge gamer, but Lara Croft is actually one of the ones that I did play alongside Uncharted. And it was a fun game. It's it's intense. And it like i if I remember correctly, the movie was pretty close to that game. But I'm excited to see what kind of story this one's going to tell because we don't know a lot about yet.
00:24:05
Speaker
Yeah.
Hans Zimmer's Role in HBO's Harry Potter Series
00:24:06
Speaker
Hans Zimmer has been confirmed as the composer for HBO's Harry Potter series. His involvement signals a major tonal shift and raises expectations for the reboot.
00:24:16
Speaker
I could not think of a better composer to fill in the shoes of John Williams. He's a great composer. he was such iconic Hedwig's theme. So if you were going to get anybody to do a different set of music to make it as iconic as Hedwig's theme, Hans Zimmer is the one to go. um he you know, is...
00:24:38
Speaker
I don't know a lot about composers, but John Williams and Hans Zimmer are the two names that I think people would recognize. So I'm excited to see what this means. The pictures of the set look really great. So this news just gets me even more pumped up for this adaptation.
00:24:57
Speaker
Yeah. Harry Potter means a lot to me and to a lot of people. It's like the seminal theme. like work of a generation basically um and i'll for me at least a big part of that is the music like i could hear pretty much any song from any movie and be like and identify what movie what scene it is um it there's just something so familiar and comforting and magical about that original score that john williams did and even the other composers who came in after he left and like just the way that they were able to kind of keep it going in the later films. um It's a really, really big assignment for somebody to try to match or even top
00:25:43
Speaker
That, and I agree with you, Sarah Day, I think if there was going to be anybody that I could pick to do it, I would pick Hans Zimmer. I mean, he's done work with Disney. He's done like the, he did I think he helped with The Lion King. He's done Pirates of the Caribbean. Like he's got a lot of iconic works under his belt like that you if you if you know you know um so yeah if anybody was going to try to take John Williams spot and create new music for this show it had to be him and so I'm really glad that they were able to to work something out with him
00:26:17
Speaker
Yeah, I think it'll be ah interesting to see how he adapts that original score, or what he does with the the audio for this one. um It's not what like the music of a film. I tend to don't latch on to as much. I mean, it is ah is iconic. I do hear you if I hear it, I know it. But it's not something I'm as deep into.
00:26:39
Speaker
But yeah, i've I've always liked both of them as a composers. So I'm i'm into it. i'm i'm interested to see what happens. See, the music is always what gets me in a film or show. Like, that's what gets me emotional. And so, mean, I don't have any more to add than Hans Zimmer had to be it. Like, if you were going to – not that I want this to top the movies because the movies do mean so much to me. But if you were going to set it apart and, like, compare and be as good as, like, Hans Zimmer had to do it. So very, very excited. Although it could have been a good chance for someone to, you know, get to wet their feet in something new. And we might have met brand new direct, a brand new composer. Cause eventually both these guys aren't going available anymore. I mean, I think we've already lost or about to lose, you John Williams getting pretty old. If he isn't ready, something was about his retirement or something. It was not too long ago. And so I think you do need to get more good chances for new computers to come out and wet their feet with something to set aside for the future. So. That's valid. I think you were going to say the same thing. This is too important. Harry Potter is too big of a thing and too important and you're talking about seven, I mean, who knows, they might split big books into multiple seasons. You're talking about at least seven, if not more seasons of this TV show that you need to be
00:28:04
Speaker
consistent and quality and like carry those themes through like I think I agree I love giving new people opportunities to to grow and to thrive I mean I think of like Ludwig of van Gorensen who did Black Panther he's done the Mandalorian show and he's incredible I love his music that he's done for every film and show that he's done i love it And he's a relatively new face. I would love to see a new person get the opportunity. Not with this. Harry Potter is too, I think, too important, too iconic to too many people to take a risk on...
00:28:38
Speaker
Something that is like, because you're always taking a risk with the new cast, with the new kids, with the new, with so much of it, just the new format of a show versus a movie, like so much of it is already new and risky.
00:28:50
Speaker
Anything that you can say, like, let's get a for sure person in here who's definitely going to do a great job. You should take those opportunities. And so I think, I think this is the right choice for this.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season Three Insights
00:29:00
Speaker
Of course. And he's got a team too. So it's not just him. It's just his name is the one that's getting the fame out of it mostly. And so it's that's the only thing I was pointing out.
00:29:09
Speaker
Yeah, that's true. I was going to also talk about the controversy of the show. It's so controversial. Not only the JK Rowling of it all, but also having even doing it in the first place has been very controversial. And then the casting of Papa Esayu has also been very controversial. So there's all of this going against the show already that i feel like you had to get a composer involved. In addition to like the show writers and the directors and like of course the cast has to be new because they're kids but there's a lot riding on this and I feel like not that Hans Zimmer is a safe choice but it is in the sense that like he is so established already.
00:29:52
Speaker
The first look at Percy Jackson and the Olympians season three is here. The series continues to build confidence with fans as it settles into long-term storytelling. i don't know about that much confidence. I'm a little a little nervous after season two, but I'm very excited for season three because we've never had a live action adaptation of season three or of book three season or books one and two had those movies that we kind of don't talk about but we will in our next episodes so check those out um but season three book three has never been touched the titan's curse has never come on screen there are so many characters in book three that we've never seen on screen before especially you know like Nico D'Angelo he's got a whole spinoff series about him and his adventures and what he gets up to um So there's and this is kind of like how a lot of people say like Goblet of Fire is kind of the turning point in Harry Potter where things start to get dark and start to get serious.
00:30:53
Speaker
Titan's Curse is that for Percy Jackson where things start to get dark, things start to get really, really serious. And like we're we're going to war with Cronos. And so I'm really, really pumped. Some of the casting that we've seen so far, super stoked. We love it. Everybody is great. Some of the casting, I'm like, are you sure?
00:31:14
Speaker
are you really sure? Like, no shade to anybody. Just like so specifically, I think it was Kate McKinnon was has been announced as Aphrodite.
00:31:25
Speaker
oh I love Kate McKinnon. She's so funny and she's so great. i don't know if I would have put her as my Aphrodite. Um, but I'm not, totally it's not totally like, I'm not totally writing it off because Aphrodite is known to change her appearance based on whoever's looking at her. So Kate McKinnon might be one of many beautiful actresses who gets to play that character. So I'm into that, but everybody else that we've had announced, um,
00:31:52
Speaker
We already have met Thalia as of season two. um The people they've announced for Bianca and Nico and the goddess Artemis and her lieutenant Zoe.
00:32:03
Speaker
All of them look great. I'm really excited for them. So we are so back getting a new season of a show every single year and they just keep filming and keep putting it out. I'm so excited to just get that consistency and just be able to look forward every December. Percy Jackson's going to come out. We're going to get a new season in and have that to look forward to every year.
00:32:24
Speaker
Yeah, I have so much read the books recently all through the original series. I definitely am excited to see this one get adapted and see some of these. because It really is where the series starts to pick up, in my opinion. I mean, it it really, you start to get this ah intrigue. The characters getting a little older. You're starting to really build onto the story of, oh, there's something happening here. there' this is This is a really interesting ah ah trajectory we're heading on here.
00:32:49
Speaker
And so I'm excited for it and will definitely be interested to see how... They'll go. maybe they Maybe they need a really good composer for this one or something. Yeah, get a new guy in here. Why not? is you know Do you know the composer for Percy Jackson? Nope.
00:33:02
Speaker
See, unless it's those two names, we don't know who this who's doing these things. and It's almost better sometimes. I really like the music for Percy Jackson. That being said, I really like the theme music. And the theme, like the end credits music is a little bit darker in season two than season one. So I'm excited to see how it continues to transition and evolve. as the seasons go on.
00:33:25
Speaker
Halle Berry will star as a gender-swapped President Duncan in The President is Missing. The adaptation of Bill Clinton and James Patterson's thriller puts a fresh spin on a familiar political story.
00:33:38
Speaker
This one, I think the gender swap would probably be fine. I'm not worried about that. um I don't know the book other than that I've ever seen it come out. But ah I mean, it sounds interesting and I'm definitely open to she and i seeing what they do with it.
00:33:55
Speaker
I used to read a lot of James Patterson books when I was a kid. um He used to do a lot more in like the young adult space. There was the Maximum Ride series that I really loved, but I haven't read a James Patterson book in a very long time. They're kind of those books that I think of like my mom always reading.
00:34:11
Speaker
no shade. um so A lot of his books get adapted. There's like the Alex Cross um like detective series that's gotten a bunch of adaptations, I think. And so like his works, tend to they're very grounded in reality, so they tend to do well from what I've heard.
00:34:30
Speaker
i did read Alex Cross. Those are really good. Yeah. So I'm excited for this. ah I like James Patterson books generally. Halle Berry is always great. So yeah, it'll be good.
00:34:44
Speaker
I'm not familiar with James Patterson, um but I am a fan of Halle Berry, and this seems like one of her classic action movies. So we'll see how it goes.
00:34:57
Speaker
Actress Odessa Azean has exited A24's upcoming adaptation of Deep Cuts after facing online backlash over her casting as Zoe Gutierrez, a character described in the book as half Mexican and half Jewish.
00:35:12
Speaker
Critics said the role should have gone to someone who better reflects the character's heritage. um I didn't see a lot of this like as the casting was happening, but I read the article about her exit. um She seems to have really listened.
00:35:27
Speaker
to the audience and she said that she hadn't read the book herself so she didn't realize that the character was half mexican half jewish so as soon as she learned that um she said that let me find the quote She emphasized that she didn't want to take a role from someone more suited for it. So I'm glad to see that more of that kind of thing is happening in Hollywood and we're we're starting to pay attention to um being, you know, faithful to the books and um more diverse.
00:36:01
Speaker
I could get behind it for those reasons for sure. i mean, if she feels like at this point it's not going to be good for her or the movie to have her in that role, if it's going to make them both her career hurt and make the movie worse by not having the right diversity in it, I definitely agree with her choice to step away from it.
00:36:20
Speaker
Hopefully the studio listens as well. Right. Yeah. These things are always complicated because I feel like it, I don't like people getting like bullied out of stuff. And sometimes like a character's background or their race, their ethnicity really matter to the story. And they're really crucial to telling the story properly.
Casting Controversies in Deep Cuts Adaptation
00:36:40
Speaker
And sometimes they don't really matter. um But if she, you know, this was really like her choice and she was like, you know what, like, no, like I want to make sure that the right person is in this role, this role is not actually for me and she made that choice to step out, then, you know, full support, go her and full support to whoever takes the role.
00:36:59
Speaker
um So, yeah. Several new characters have been cast in the How to Train Your Dragon live action sequel, including Phil Dunster, who joins a returning ensemble featuring Mason Tames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler,
00:37:14
Speaker
and Cate Blanchett directed once again by Dean de Blas and set for release on June 11th, 2027.
How to Train Your Dragon Sequel Casting News
00:37:23
Speaker
The film also stars forgive me for this name I'm going to butcher it Oliver Darie Olofsson as the villain Drago Boudvist blood blood vist alongside Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Roran James and Harry Trevoldwin.
00:37:45
Speaker
Those names, those were mouthful. Phil Dunster obviously is best known for Ted Lasso. And I think that this casting is far from Poupé, as he would say. So the first one I was really pleased with. Obviously, lots of the audience was pleased with it because it did really well. um I haven't seen the sequel animated film in a very long time, but it looks like, from what I can tell, this live action sequel is following the animated sequel. So I'm excited to watch um the animated version with my children and then go see the live action. um
00:38:25
Speaker
As far as the books go, it's so different, the first Child the Train a Dragon from the book. um So I have that's a series I haven't read, so I don't know how off the rails it does get. But as far as the live action from the animated goes, it was so good. And I'm really looking forward to this as well.
00:38:45
Speaker
Yeah, I think I have watched the animated all three of them recently again, and they were i mean they are solid on their own. They almost almost didn't need a live action. That's what I felt from the beginning. But then they went and did the ba the direct adaptation, and I was totally on board with that as well.
00:39:03
Speaker
Didn't see it while i was in theaters, but I watched it at home and loved it. So I definitely think that these all sound like good additions, and i'm i'm ready ah ready to see more. Yeah, not much to add. I think if they repeat what they did for the first one with the second one, just do shot for shot, then as long as the all all the casting sounds great to me. I also haven't seen the sequel film in a very long time, so I'm not sure about everything. um But I trust them. They did great casting in the first one, so they continue that with the second one and just do their shot for shot remake again, it should be great. So, yeah.
00:39:42
Speaker
That wraps up our updates for casting news and production and stuff. Now we're going to move on to our books that have been picked up for adaptation.
The Housemaid's Secret Film Adaptation
00:39:51
Speaker
And we're going to start with Lionsgate Confirm the Housemaid Secret, which will begin filming this year. Sydney Sweeney will return as Millie with Michelle Morone as Enzo and Paul Feig coming back as director.
00:40:09
Speaker
Woo. And none of us were all that excited about this, I don't think. But I mean, we're interested to see where it goes, I think. So I'm open to it being good and on the screen. Not sure any of us really want to read another book, but open to it. We'll see what happens. We'll see what the Discord is online with it.
00:40:27
Speaker
Yeah, I really yeah don't want to read another book, but I will do it for you, dear listeners and watchers. If you really want us to, I will do it for you. I liked that. I think we've talked about it in our episodes when we covered the original Housemaid. I like the ending. It's kind of interesting to give Millie this guy like...
00:40:45
Speaker
black widow like husband like abusive husband murdering like gig um yeah this vigilante vibe is is intriguing um i don't have a lot of confidence in the author to like do that story justice but after having seen the movie i am kind of confident in the director and um the rest of that crew to make the movie interesting so Even if we don't end up covering it here and I am able to escape having to read the book, I would probably still see the sequel just because I'm intrigued by that idea. same That's fair.
00:41:22
Speaker
Yeah, the movie was fine. i liked, i like, i I don't think I would have gone insane. seen it in the theaters if we weren't covering it but it's something I would watch when I was bored and it was streaming on Netflix or whatever but I am interested to see the film like it it kept my attention enough I think we're all agreed on not wanting to read the books but sign up for the patron vote for House Made Secret and we will do that for you ACOTAR Watch continues. Sarah J. Maas writes, are officially back on the market. This development reopened speculations about where and how her massively popular fantaser fantasy series could land.
00:42:04
Speaker
Oh, SJM.
Speculation on Sarah J. Maas's Series Adaptations
00:42:07
Speaker
um I'm desperate for an adaptation of ACOTAR and Throne of Glass and all of her works. um Rumors on the streets about the books themselves is that it's they're all three of her current series, Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. are going to connect in one giant Marvel-type multiverse thing.
00:42:30
Speaker
um And so I would like... Cosmere. Yes, Cosmere. So I would like to see all of her basically... Spoilers for one of our next topics is Cosmere. That universe being picked up. I would like to see her universe get picked up in a similar way um and all of them be done in the same place with the same quality and the same style.
00:42:52
Speaker
Personally, i think it's hard because Throne of Glass could be great as live action. i think ACOTAR lends itself more towards animation. I feel like some of the CGI that they would have to do is just going to end up looking goofy. And so animation would be better for that.
00:43:08
Speaker
But at some point, I just want an adaptation period and so I'll take whatever I can get wherever I can get it. um But I actually kind of like how she's being stingy with it and like wanting to make sure that whoever she does sell the rights to is going to do it properly and do it justice. um Originally, she had signed a deal with Hulu.
00:43:31
Speaker
That was not the right place, in my opinion. i don't There's no way that Hulu is going to have the budget and the production quality to do it properly the way that it deserves to be done. i would love to see her go somewhere like HBO or Amazon or even like Apple tv has done good work with a lot of its adaptations.
00:43:50
Speaker
But... this is a ah really iconic series and set of works, especially in like this emerging book talk, bookstagram culture that we have. It needs to be done properly. It needs to be done justice. So I actually like her being like, you guys are not cutting it. Let me find something better. So I'm willing to be patient as long as she continues to write while she's negotiating all these other deals. Cause we need ACOTAR 6 like yesterday, girl, like please.
00:44:20
Speaker
The longer she makes you wait, the more desperate you'll get. so I'm really desperate. I'm i'm really desperate. If she can get the kind of creative control that Brandon Sanderson is talking about having with his Apple deal, I think that that would be the right thing, would be to make sure that she gets the final say on how things go with her characters and her story. Yeah, absolutely.
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Comes to Apple TV+
00:44:43
Speaker
Yeah.
00:44:44
Speaker
Yeah, honestly, we're about to read the Apple and Brandon Sanderson headline. like If we could just copy that and paste it to Sarah J. Maas, ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, like I think that would be ideal because Apple TV, for the most part, is quality over quantity. there' i haven't seen an Apple TV show that I haven't liked, but they also don't pump them out as fast as like something like Netflix is doing. yeah They're really taking their time and making sure they have good content. um
00:45:17
Speaker
And I think that they're going to handle the Cosmere that way, and I think that they would handle Agitar. If it wasn't Apple TV, I would say Amazon is probably my next favorite one to do. I'm really enjoying Fallout. And, but like you said, I don't think Hulu would have done it justice. Disney Plus obviously is not going to do a justice. um And I don't think, I mean, as much as I like how they did One Piece, and I even liked... Avatar Last Airbender live action. i don't think Netflix is good for this either. So Apple TV is my first choice, followed by Amazon. um There was maybe like a year ago, a leaked photo, or i not leaked, but somebody had taken a photo of
00:46:03
Speaker
Sarah J Maas meeting with Margot Robbie and we all know Margot Robbie has a production company so I was always interested to see if that was leading anywhere um because the rights were still I guess under Hulu maybe but I think so at that time it was going it was about to expire so everybody was like oh sarah sorry Margot Robbie is about to buy them up so i don't know what kind of involvement I would want Margot to have because I do want this to be a TV show. um
00:46:34
Speaker
I don't think we can get good movies out of it. There's too much. It has to be a show. i don't want Margot Robbie cast as anybody in it at all. But I think like we've seen because she was a producer for Barbie and we saw how much care she put into Barbie. I would love to see her on the back end. you know, helping produce and helping like guide Sarah J. Maas because Sarah J. Maas doesn't know how to make a movie or a show like she's an awe she's a writer. So I would love to see Margot Robbie and her kind of like hold hands and take that journey together as, you know, yeah incredible women like me telling these stories. I would love to see that.
00:47:10
Speaker
um Yeah. and Yeah. Get out the checkbook, Apple. Please. I know you've got that money from the iPhones, girl. Put it out. Keep writing the checks. Keep them coming, please.
00:47:23
Speaker
Okay, speaking of Apple TV, they have picked up Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Universe for adaptation. Sanderson will be closely involved as a writer, producer, and consultant. This is a huge win for book fans. um And the Cosmere Universe...
00:47:41
Speaker
includes the way of kings and the mistborn series so this is a series i think i mentioned earlier this is my husband's favorite author he has been trying to get me to read these books for a very long time i' have started both the way of kings and mistborn several times and gotten a few chapters in each time i am an audiobook listener and i am not a huge fan of the narrators so it has taken me a long time but Like Chris mentioned earlier, he's reading Miss Bourne and I will be joining him on that journey. um
00:48:16
Speaker
Not much more to say because we've already talked about how great Apple TV is on their shows. I couldn't think of a better. Okay, wait, I woke Matthew up. from his slumber when I saw this news be announced it was like 10 at night our bedtime is 9 p.m sharp and so I was like oh my gosh honey guess what and he was you know mumbled in his sleepy I'm like Apple TV picked up Brandon Sanderson and he was like oh that's great news and I'm like I know so yes this is this is great news I've had a lot of friends trying to get me to read Brandon Sanderson and I have a
00:48:55
Speaker
the aversion to reading things that are too popular or even watching things that are too popular. If people are recommending it me too much, I'm usually like, no thanks. I'm good. I'll wait for it to die down a bit. Chris is not like other girls.
00:49:06
Speaker
No, I like to be, i like I like to take my own way, go my own way and find my own way. But once this got announced, it wass like, all right, it's time to make the plunge. And so I've Made sure I have mapped it out. I know what I'm doing. i mean, I got the 24 books I got to get through right now. And then I've got whatever he comes out with in the next 20 years. So I've got a long commitment I'm setting up here. So join me as I go through the entire Cosmers.
00:49:34
Speaker
Yeah, I think I'll probably join you guys for it, too. Cool. Ethan, my husband, and I have also had some friends recommending it to us for a very long time. And these are also the same friends who recommended throwing a glass to me. Because I i started out with ACOTAR and then I got to, i was like throwing a glass, like I don't know, whatever. And then she she was like, no, you have to. And i was like, okay. And now it's changed my life and I have a tattoo and it's a whole thing. um But these are the same friends who want me to read the Cosmere universe and Mistborn. And so I think now that the show is coming out and you guys are reading it, we can we do our own little book, watch book club and read that one kind of on the side as we navigate all the other things that we're reading and watching.
00:50:17
Speaker
Congratulations, guys. What's our new motto we've been talking about? So much content. So little time. Yeah. Yeah.
Future of Bridgerton: Eloise and Francesca's Stories
00:50:24
Speaker
that yeah I think we've all joined a cult now.
00:50:27
Speaker
The Brandon Sanderson universe. Last but not least, Bridgerton showrunner Dress Brunel confirmed that seasons five and six will focus on Eloise and Francesca. Fans caught the hint via an embroidered pocket square featuring the initials E and F. I just want to say right off the top, I have not read any of these Bridgerton books.
00:50:49
Speaker
I am a show only person. That being said, I do exist on the internet and I have heard a lot of the consternation about changes that have been made to Eloise and Francesca's storylines, even in these currently current seasons that we already have that have not been like focused on their storylines. um So I'm really interested to see if that kind of fan change discourse continues gets bigger um if more fans kind of like i've seen some people say like i simply will not watch the show anymore because of how severely they've changed francesca's storyline um
00:51:35
Speaker
Again, having not read any of the books, I don't get it. I'm going to continue to watch. I'm going see what's going on. um But yeah, I'm excited for Eloise and Francesca to get their seasons, for all of the Bridgerton children to get their seasons. um And yeah, there's a lot, there's a lot happening here with comparing to the books. And, we you know, Sarada, you did an episode on the first season, right? And the first book. And that was very different. And so I think, I think we all kind of have to just accept that the show and the books are different, and they're just not going to be the same.
00:52:15
Speaker
um and they're going to do, you know, kind of the bare bones of what happens in the books and bring that to life. But it's kind of its own entity at this point, and it's taken on a life of its own. So I'm excited to see what happens next. I've loved all of the seasons that have been out so far, and this first half of season four has been really good.
00:52:34
Speaker
So I definitely want to continue to watching and see what happens with Eloise and Francesca. um But I think when I do actually read the books, I'll probably have some concerns as well. But we'll save those for another time.
00:52:49
Speaker
As I understand, the books make some pretty big time jumps between different sections. So people are at different ages than they are when we see them here. They're different. There's all sorts of different stuff going on, but I haven't read them either. So um I'm interested to see what the books do differently. But you're right. They are definitely their own thing here on the TV. And they've done a good job with ah catering to a good story. So Eloise is one of my favorite characters in the whole show. So I'm excited to see how they end up eventually ensnaring her into this society and what happens there.
00:53:21
Speaker
well to be fair the show is doing really big time jumps as well with two bloody years in between seasons so but that's that's a so totally separate issue with the state of streaming today but I digress alright well that is our news episode for February everybody thank you for joining us tonight and we will see you next week for Percy Jackson the Sea of Monsters and we'll see you next month for March news bye guys That's a wrap for this week's episode of Book Watch.
00:53:52
Speaker
We hope you enjoy diving into the world of page-to-screen adaptations with us. If you love this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating and review wherever you listen, and share it with a fellow book and movie lover.
00:54:04
Speaker
If you prefer to watch along, you can check out the show on YouTube, youtube.com slash at bookwatchpodcast. You can follow the show on Instagram at bookwatchpodcast. And you can follow me, Sarah Day, on Instagram at captain.mcd. That's M-C-D-E-E.
00:54:24
Speaker
And you can follow me, Jordan, on Instagram at jjcorido. That's C-A-R-R-I-D-O. And you can follow me, Chris, at cyborgnight404. That's night with a K.
00:54:36
Speaker
You can also join the conversation in the Book Watch Lounge on Facebook at facebook.com slash groups slash bookwatch lounge. If you'd like to support the podcast, you can join the Patreon at patreon.com slash bookwatch podcast. Tiers start at only $4 a month and we would love to have you over there. Have a favorite adaptation you'd like us to cover or a book you think deserves a screen adaptation or just want to let us know of any feedback, send us an email at bookwatchpodcast at gmail.com.
00:55:05
Speaker
Until next time, keep reading, keep watching, and we will see next week.