A Temperate Spring
by Raya Kuzyk and John Sellers -- Publishers Weekly, 12/17/2007
For last fall, we reported a tornado-like storm of tie-ins (“Adaptation Infinitum,” Aug. 27); conditions are a bit calmer this spring, and they are especially favorable to children, though there's plenty of bodice-ripping (The Other Boleyn Girl) and gravitas (Beaufort) for adults. Adaptations of Stephen Gould's Jumper, Wendy Orr's Nim's Island, Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who! and Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's The Spiderwick Chronicles will all be blowing in, as will the CGI-animated Foodfight!
Movies
December
Youth Without Youth
Starring Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Release date December 14 (Sony Pictures Classics, limited)
Based on the novella by Mircea Eliad (Univ. of Chicago Press, Nov. 2007; paper)
Coppola adapts, produces and directs Romanian theorist Eliad's 1976 novella about a 70-year-old man in pre–World War II Europe who finds eternal youth at the end of a stray lighting bolt. Coppola's first film since The Rainmaker (1997).
January
Beaufort
Starring Oshri Cohen, Itay Tiran, Eli Eltonyo
Directed by Joseph Cedar
Release date January 12 (Kino International, limited)
Based on the novel by Ron Leshem (Delacorte, Jan. 2; hardcover)
Leshem's war novel garnered Israel's top literary award in 2006, and the adaptation has borne out some of that magic: Cedar won Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival.
February
Jumper
Starring Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Lane
Directed by Doug Liman
Release date February 14 (20th Century Fox/New Regency Enterprises, wide)
Based on the novel by Steven Gould (Tor, Feb. 5; 250,000 mass market)
Tie-in from Tor: Jumper: Griffin's Story (Aug. 2007 hardcover; Feb. 5 mass market)
Gould's 1992 SF tale of a boy with the ability to teleport is the basis for the movie, whose backstory was paved by the August 2007 hardcover.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Starring Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte
Directed by Mark Waters
Release date February 15 (Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies, wide)
Based on the series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
Tie-ins from Simon & Schuster: 18 titles, including Mallory on Guard by Brooke Lindner (Simon Spotlight, Jan.; 150,000, 8x8 paper), Make Your Own Field Guide by Benjamin Harper (Simon Scribbles, Jan.; 100,000 activity), Spiderwick Chronicles Official Movie Companion by Wendy Wax (Simon Spotlight, Jan.; 75,000 mass market) and The Spiderwick Chronicles Movie Tie-In Boxed Set by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi (S&S, Jan.; 40,000 hardcover)
Black's bestselling fantasy series jumps to the big screens of both IMAX and conventional theaters, bringing along with it legions of faeries, trolls and brownies.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Starring Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend
Directed by Mark Herman
Release Date February 21, tentative (Miramax)
Based on the novel by John Boyne (Random/David Fickling, 2006 hardcover)
Tie-in from Random/David Fickling: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Reader's Circle edition (Oct. 2007; 50,000 trade paper)
David Heyman (Harry Potter) produces Boyne's story about a nine-year-old boy who struggles to make sense of his curious new home.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana
Directed by Justin Chadwick
Release date February 29 (Sony Pictures, wide)
Based on the novel by Philippa Gregory (Sept. 25; Pocket Star, 500,000 mass market; Touchstone, 200,000 trade paper)
Pocket and Touchstone were late to learn of the movie's delay from December to February. With the movie soon in theaters (two sisters compete for the affections of Henry VIII, one loses her head), will the tie-ins' early start have helped or hindered book sales?
March
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Starring Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Ciaran Hinds
Directed by Bharat Nalluri
Release date March 7 (Focus Features, limited)
Based on the novel by Winifred Watson (Persephone Books, Jan. 1; 30,000 trade paper)
A movie about the discordant pairing of a middle-aged London governess and an American nightclub singer plays to the tune of a U.K. publisher's reissue of this long-out-of-print romantic comedy.
Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who!
Voices of Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett
Directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino
Release Date March 14 (20th Century Fox Animation, wide)
Based on the book by Dr. Seuss (Random, 1962; hardcover)
Tie-ins from Random House: Nine titles, including Horton Hears a Who! Pop-Up (Random/Robin Corey, Jan.), Horton Hears a Who! Can You? (Random/Golden Books, Jan.; novelty with puppet) and the two original Horton books from the 1960s (1.5 million combined printing for entire program)
Dr. Seuss's story, his second to feature Horton the elephant, stomps in as a CGI-animated extravaganza voiced by three comedy-world heavyweights.
April
The Ruins
Starring Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey
Directed by Carter Smith
Release date April 4 (Paramount/DreamWorks, wide)
Based on the novel by Scott B. Smith (Vintage, Feb. 26 trade paper; Mar. 25 mass market)
A group of tourists searching for Mayan ruins gets bushwhacked in the Yucatan jungle by killer foliage. As with his 1993 debut novel, A Simple Plan, Smith wrote the screenplay to this 2006 bestseller.
Foodfight!
Voices of Charlie Sheen, Hilary Duff, Eva Longoria
Directed by Lawrence Kasanoff
Release Date April 11 (Lions Gate/Threshold Entertainment, wide)
Based on a story by Lawrence Kasanoff and Joshua Wexler
Tie-ins from Random/Golden Books: Six titles, including Mission: Marketropolis (Mar., 8x8 paper), Top Dog (Mar., coloring book) and Foodfight! (Mar., paper novelization). 500,000 combined printing for entire program
Brand-name supermarket foodstuffs come to life by night in this heavily product-placed, CGI-animated film.
Nim's Island
Starring Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin, Gerard Butler
Directed by Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin
Release Date April 4 (20th Century Fox/Walden Media)
Based on the book by Wendy Orr, illus. by Kerry Millard (Knopf, 2001; hardcover)
Tie-ins from Random House: Nim's Island (Random/Yearling, Feb.; 80,000 digest); Nim at Sea (Knopf, Mar.; 10,000 hardcover)
Tie-ins from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: Nim's Friends (Apr., trade paper); Nim's Island: Movie Storybook (Apr., paper over board)
The adventures of a modern-day Robinson Crusoe who lives on a remote tropical island with her scientist father and exchanges e-mails with the author of a book she's reading.
Boy A
Starring Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Katie Lyons
Directed by John Crowley
Release date April TBA (Weinstein Co., wide)
Based on the novel by Jonathan Trigell (Serpent's Tail, Apr.; 1,500 trade paper)
Trigell's 2005 debut novel about a young ex-con with the chance at a new identity but little real hope of one. Small beginnings as a U.K. telly production–turned–Toronto Film Festival entry.
Date TBA
Winged Creatures
Starring Forest Whitaker, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning
Directed by Rowan Woods
Based on the novel by Roy Freirich (St. Martin's Griffin, Jan.; 20,000 paper)
The survivors of a random attack bond over their shared experience and ponder the meaning of their individual existences.
TV—Ongoing
Care Bears
(CBS)
Tie-ins from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: Care Bears: Caring Colors (Feb., board); Care Bears: Plant a Garden (Apr., paper)
Charlie and Lola
(Playhouse Disney)
Tie-ins from Penguin/Grosset & Dunlap: But I Am an Alligator (Jan.; 40,000 mass market); I Can Do Anything That's Everything All on My Own (Jan.; 40,000 mass market)
Clifford the Big Red Dog & Clifford's Puppy Days
(PBS Kids & PBS Kids Sprout)
Tie-in from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: Clifford's Bedtime: A Pop-Up Book (Jan., paper)
Cory in the House
(Disney Channel)
Tie-in from Disney Press: Cory in the House: Rock On! (Mar., paper)
Curious George
(PBS)
Tie-ins from Houghton Mifflin: Curious George Hide-and-Seek (Mar.; 75,000 board); Curious George Shapes (Apr.; 50,000 board)
Disney's Little Einsteins
(Disney Channel)
Tie-ins from Disney Press: Five titles, including Disney's Little Einsteins: Around the World with the Little Einsteins by Marcy Kelman (Jan., novelty), Disney's Little Einsteins: Oh Yes, Oh Yes, It's Springtime! by Susan Ring (Jan., 8x8 paper) and Disney's Little Einsteins: Mr. Penguin's Ice Cream Adventure by Susan Ring (Apr., paper)
The Doodlebops
(Disney Channel)
Tie-ins from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: (Jan., trade paper) Doodlebops: Live in Concert; Doodlebops: We Love Our Fans!; Untitled Sound Book
Dora the Explorer
(Nickelodeon)
Tie-in from Reader's Digest: Dora's World of Adventure (Feb.; 150,000 hardcover)
Franny's Feet
(PBS Kids)
Tie-ins from Penguin/Grosset & Dunlap: Franny's Frantastic Adventure (Jan.; 30,000 mass market); The Dinosaur Dig by Veronica Wasserman (Jan.; 40,000 mass market); A Pony Show by Samantha Brooke (Jan.; 30,000 mass market)
Go, Diego, Go!
(Nickelodeon)
Tie-in from Reader's Digest: Diego the Hero (Mar.; 100,000 hardcover)
Hannah Montana
(Disney Channel)
Tie-ins from Disney Press: Hannah Montana Junior Novel #10: Don't Bet on It (Jan.; 250,000 paper); Hannah Montana Junior Novel #11: Sweet Revenge (Mar.; 250,000 paper)
Horseland
(CBS)
Tie-ins from HarperFestival: Horseland #5: Western Riding Winner (Feb.; 35,000 mass market); Horseland #6: If the Horseshoe Fits (Apr.; 35,000 mass market); Horseland #7: It's Just a Horse (June; 35,000 mass market), all by Annie Auerbach
Maisy
(Noggin)
Tie-ins from Candlewick: With Love from Maisy (Jan.; 25,000 novelty); Maisy's Nature Walk (Mar.; 20,000 hardcover), both by Lucy Cousins
Max and Ruby
(Nick Jr. & Noggin)
Tie-ins from Penguin/Grosset & Dunlap: Max's Easter Surprise (Jan.; 40,000 mass market); Max's Work of Art (Mar.; 30,000 mass market); Hide-and-Seek (Mar.; 25,000 board)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
(Disney Channel)
Tie-ins from Disney Press: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Go, Goofy, Go! (Jan.; 100,000 early reader paper), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Mystery of the Missing Muffins (Jan.; 100,000 early reader paper) and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Rainbow (Jan.; 100,000 paper), all by Sheila Sweeny Higginson; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Dr. Daisy, M.D. by Thea Feldman (Apr., paper)
The Naked Brothers Band
(Nickelodeon)
Tie-ins from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: (Jan., trade paper) The Naked Brothers Band: Chapter Book #1; The Naked Brothers Band: Chapter Book #2
Pokémon
(Cartoon Network)
Tie-ins from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: Pokémon: Welcome to Sinnoh (Jan., trade paper); Pokémon: Movie Novelization (Apr., trade paper)
Tie-in from Scholastic en Español: Pokémon: Guia de Sinnoh (Jan., trade paper)
Scooby-Doo!
(Cartoon Network & Boomerang)
Tie-ins from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: (trade paper) Scooby-Doo!: Scooby-Doo's Double Storybook (Jan.); Scooby-Doo!: Case Files #4 (Feb.); Scooby-Doo!: Museum Madness (Apr.)
Shonen Jump's Yu-Gi-Oh!
(Cartoon Network)
Tie-ins from Scholastic Licensed Publishing: (Feb., trade paper) Shonen Jump's Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightshroud's Secret: Chapter Book #5; Shonen Jump's Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Rescue Duel: Reader #3
TV—Special
January
The Backyardigans: The Tale of the Mighty Knights
Air date January 21 (Nick Jr.)
Tie-ins from Simon Spotlight: The Mighty Egg Sitter by Allison Inches (Jan.; 150,000 mass market); Follow That Egg by Catherine Lukas (Jan.; 150,000 mass market)
February
A Raisin in the Sun
Starring Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald
Directed by Kenny Leon
Air date February 25 (ABC)
Based on the play by Lorraine Hansberry (Vintage, trade paper)
