Some hardened bibliophiles might shudder at the thought of their favourite books being adapted into films and TV shows. Yet, there’s often something satisfying about seeing characters in whom you’ve invested time and emotion coming to life on the big or small screen.
Also, let’s be frank. There are a lot of literary works out there that we wouldn’t have known about had they not inspired a film or TV series.
So, if you’re looking for a new book to read or wondering if your favourites are on their way to becoming motion pictures, we’ve rounded up five works that are being adapted into films and TV shows in the neat future.
'The Cactus'
Reese Witherspoon has just cemented a deal with Netflix to produce and star in two upcoming rom-coms.
While Your Place or Mine is based on an original script, The Cactus is adapted from Sarah Haywood's bestselling novel of the same name.
The novel, which was the pick of Witherspoon’s book club in June 2019, tells the story of a 45-year-old woman’s unexpected pregnancy, which causes her tightly ordered life to slowly unravel. She had never considered motherhood before and the development results in a number of unexpected events, which cause her to rethink her pragmatic and meticulously structured life.
The book is every bit as hilarious as it is poignant and will inspire you to embrace the unexpected.
'The Lying Life of Adults'
Another Netflix adaptation in the works is a TV series based on Elena Ferrante's The Lying Life of Adults.
Though the English translation of the 2019 Italian novel isn’t even out yet (that’s coming up in September), the streaming giant was quick to secure the rights to what promises to be a thrilling and unforgettable Neapolitan story.
And given that Ferrante – named one of the most influential people of 2016 by Time magazine – is one of the most widely read Italian writers of today, it was definitely a smart acquisition.
The Lying Life of Adults revolves around Giovanna, a young girl whose father tells her she is becoming ugly. He says she is growing up to look more like her Aunt Vittoria every day, a woman both her parents deride and avoid. Giovanna then begins to search for her true reflection in two cities that seem to hate and fear one another: the Naples of the heights – a place of refinement and sophistication – and the Naples of the depths – where vulgarity and excess dominate.
Yet, Giovanna drifts between these two places, seemingly unable to ground herself in any of them.
'The Woman in the Window'
Based on the 2018 novel by pseudonymous writer AJ Finn, The Woman in the Window is centred around an agoraphobic psychologist in New York City who befriends a neighbour from across the street.
The friendship takes Dr Anna Fox, who in the film is played by Amy Adams, on a twisted journey after her neighbour disappears and she suspects the worst.
The film has cast a number of high-profile actors including Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman and Anthony Mackie.
The film was slated for a Thursday, May 14 release, but it seems to have been indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
'Dune'
Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel has a cult following, and with good reason – it is among the best science-fiction books ever written.
Set on the fictional planet of Arrakis, the novel draws a unique geopolitical web that can only be compared to Lord of the Rings.
The story follows a young royal who not only has to battle hostile native creatures to mine spice – a life extending drug that is the world’s most prized resource – but also uphold his family's stewardship of the land against other interstellar noble houses.
And if you're still not eagerly looking forward to it, we have to add that a good stretch of the arid, desert landscape you'll see in the upcoming film – which is scheduled for a December release – were actually shot right here in Abu Dhabi.
'Death on the Nile'
After Murder on the Orient Express grossed more than $250 million (Dh918m) internationally, it makes sense that Kenneth Branagh is reprising his role as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
Death on the Nile, based on the Agatha Christie novel, explores a mystery that surrounds the death of a newlywed heiress aboard a cruise ship on the Nile. It is up to Poirot to sift through the litany of murderous motives by others on the ship – each of whom dislike the heiress for their own reasons – to find who is responsible for her death. The film also stars Gal Gadot, Tom Bateman and Russell Brand.
Death on the Nile is slated to hit cinemas on Friday, October 9. However, it remains to be seen whether Covid-19 complications cause a delay in its release.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
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Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
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Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
