From ancient epics to dystopian futures, 2025 is set to bring some of our favourite stories to the big screen.
Last year, fans watched as directors adapted Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us (2016), to dismal reviews, a more promising recreation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz (2017), and of course, the latest adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995).
Despite these successes, and what some might consider less than successful, 2025 has much more in store for book-to-screen adaptations coming out or beginning production.
The Odyssey
In case seeing Tom Holland and Zendaya engaged wasn’t enough, we now get to watch them costar in Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey.
I hate to get your hopes up early for this one, but it’s impossible not to talk about it. Fresh off his 2024 Oscar-sweeping Oppenheimer (2023), Nolan will be directing the upcoming adaptation of Homer’s Ancient Greek Epic, The Odyssey.
Entering production in 2025 and coming out in July 2026, the star-studded cast includes Matt Damon, Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway and Lupita Nyong’o.
The Odyssey is one of the oldest surviving works of literature, published around the 8th or 7th century BCE. The canonical work is a follow-up to The Iliad, which takes place near the end of the Trojan War and is divided into 24 books which follow the King of Ithaca, Odysseus, and his journey home after the war. Clocking in at 12,109 lines of dactylic hexameter, the lengthy poem will present a new challenge for Nolan.
Known for directing puzzling movies centering around complex characters, some might worry The Odyssey is out of Nolan’s wheelhouse, but that remains to be seen.
Without much information, we can only guess who will be playing who. I’d put money on seeing Damon as Odysseus, and Holland as his son Telemachus, but the rest is up in the air. Regardless, Nolan’s adaptation is exciting news for film lovers, history buffs, or both.
Frankenstein
Director of Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), The Shape of Water (2017), and Pinocchio (2022), Guillermo del Toro is taking on the latest adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein (1818), in a new adaptation expected in October 2025.
Set in 19th century Eastern Europe, Frankenstein follows the creature born of scientist Victor Frankenstein’s experiments, who goes on to live a tragic life, seeking revenge on the scientist by killing his loved ones. Ultimately, overwhelmed with loneliness and guilt, the monster builds a funeral pyre and burns himself to death.
The classic story has been adapted over 30 times, but this latest version is backed by a talented director and cast, as well as an exciting new premise.
This adaptation will take place 45 years after the original plot. The monster’s remains are tracked down by another scientist, Dr. Pretorius, who continues the experiments started by Dr. Frankenstein.
This exciting new storyline will feature Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein, Mia Goth as his wife Elizabeth, and Jacob Elordi as the monster. Dr. Pretorius, will be played by Inglourious Basterds (2009) star Christoph Waltz.
Klara and the Sun
Known for directing quirky comedies like Jojo Rabbit (2019), Taika Waititi is set to adapt Kazuo Ishiguro’s award-winning novel Klara and the Sun (2021), expected in 2025. Taking place in a dystopian future where human interaction is limited, Klara and the Sun follows the titular character Klara, an artificial intelligence robot hired to care for 14-year-old Josie.
As Josie grows sicker, attributable to pollution by the “Cootings Machine,” a piece of construction equipment that emits a smog blocking out the sun’s light, Klara plots against the Cootings Machine and pleads with the sun to let Josie live longer and fall in love with her best friend and neighbour, Rick.
Published during the COVID-19 pandemic, Klara and the Sun paints a startlingly beautiful portrait about the need for human connection in the age of technology.
Starring Jenna Ortega as Klara, Mia Tharia as Josie, and Amy Adams as her mother, this star-studded cast has already started work on adapting Ishiguro’s unforgettable novel.
Mickey 17
Director of Parasite (2019) and Okja (2017), Bong Joon-ho is adapting Edward Ashton’s bestselling novel Mickey7 (2022). The adaptation was set to come out in March 2024 but has been pushed back to March 2025, allegedly due to back-and-forth between Warner Bros. and Joon-ho on what should make the final cut.
Mickey7 is a gripping work of science fiction that follows Mickey Barns, a “disposable” worker on a dangerous colonization mission to the planet of Niflheim.
As a disposable worker, Mickey must undertake dangerous tasks, knowing that in the event of his death, his memories and consciousness will be uploaded into a replacement clone. However, when the original Mickey—Mickey7—survives a near-death experience, he must learn to coexist with his clone, Mickey8 under the harsh and unforgiving government of the colony.
Witty and suspenseful, the novel is a classic for science fiction lovers. Starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes and under the experienced direction of Bong Joon-ho, Mickey 17 will be a must-watch for science fiction fans.
Tags
adaptation, books, books to blockbusters, Christopher Nolan, films, Taika Waititi
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.