The Next Big Novel to Film Franchise?

Well, let's face it. All but one of the Harry Potter books have been adapted into films by this point, and there are two films left to be released. So, I'm certain that all of the big movie studios are going to be scrambling to find the next big Novel-Gone-Film franchise.

Twilight is at the moment, considered the next Harry Potter (Despite my cries of anger), but let's face it; with how quickly Summit Entertainment is shoving these things out, it'll be over before Harry Potter is. I mean, they haven't green lit the fourth book yet, and if they do, it'll be released the same year as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

So, I thought that I would put my two cents in, as I'm a bit of a book worm myself, and give you guys my thoughts on which big series deserves the big screen treatment the most. Enjoy.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Now, this is a series that I feel has a lot of potential. While I'm not the biggest fan of the way that Rick Riordan (author of all five Percy Jackson Novels) ended the series, I do think that it could work perfectly as a movie franchise.

The one flaw that could really hurt this film however, is it's similarities to Harry Potter. There's a lot of 'em. Odds are that there will be those out there who can't help themselves but compare the two, and find that Harry Potter wins every time, thus ruining the experience of this new series.

I've seen the latest trailer, and can say that it looks like it could be a decent fantasy flick, but it's from FOX, so...you know....

PROS:

1. The first four books are great.

2. They got a kid who resembles the picture of Percy in my head.

CONS:

1. The books had a horrid sense of humor, and they would make great movies horrible because of it.

2. You can't make them entirely serious, or you lose the lighthearted feel of the novels.

3. It's 20th Century FOX making it.

4. Other than Percy, the cast doesn't really look like who they're playing, but if they give the right performances, then I'll be fine.

5. The books are very similar to the Harry Potter novels, and they should have waited until Harry Potter had ended to make this.

Odds of this being the next big franchise: 6/10

Septimus Heap

Well, knowing that they're biggest franchise was coming to an end, Warner Brothers has decided to buy the film rights to Septimus Heap, another series about a young wizard discovering his true talent, set to begin production as soon as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 wraps up. I've read the first two books in the series (Well, half of the second anyway), and I can say that they are very different from Harry Potter. But, they're not nearly as exciting, so there's less chance of drawing in a mainstream audience, and more of a fantasy oriented audience, which isn't a bad thing really. Just not a huge moneymaker.

PROS:

1. It takes a new and interesting spin on the whole wizard thing.

2. It's a family kind of fantasy, but not in the little kiddie sense.

3. It's Warner Bros. who in my mind haven't made an awful movie in a few years.

CONS:

1. It will be compared to Harry Potter.

2. It's a little dull.

3. It will more than likely fail to grab the mainstream audience.

Odds of this being the next big franchise: 4/10

The Chronicles of Narnia

I know that the first two haven't done too well at the box office, and being dropped by Disney certainly doesn't help, but the series of novels will continue to be adapted, even if they'll be distributed by FOX this time around. I for one like the first two films (I don't think they're great, but they're passable fantasy films), and think that they have a lot of potential.

PROS:

1. The first two have been pretty good.

2. There's good people working on the new film.

CONS:

1. Once again...it's FOX....

2. They haven't done well box office wise.

Odds of this being the next big franchise: 6/10

Alex Rider

Well, this is a series of novels that was better off without the grace of the silver screen. You see, the Alex Rider books constantly top the New York Times Bestseller List with every new entry, and you might as well forget about Spy Kids; this is the real James Bond for kids.

However, while this sounds like a great idea for a series of films, it's really not. The reason why the books work is because you put the picture together in your own head, and all of the events make more sense in your head then when you see them in real life. This kid just does so much, that's so crazy, that the only way it works in a film is if you tone it down to the point where it's stupid.

Skip the movie, because it's awful. Read the book instead. It's a lot more fun. There's been talks for a sequel or reboot for years, but I doubt it's going to happen.

PROS:

1. A sequel/reboot could fix the flaws of the first film, but it would be quite the feat.

CONS:

1. The first hardly got a U.S. release, so I doubt that any sequels would.

2. The books don't translate to screen well.

Odds of this being the next big franchise: 2/10

Artemis Fowl

YES!!! This is the one, I'm telling you. If there is a franchise of young adult novels that deserves to be a series of blockbuster films more than this one, you point it out to me, because I can't see one. This is without a doubt one of the most original series of novels around, and it would make an amazing series of films, if given the right talent.

It's the story of a 12 year old boy who discovers that fairies do indeed exist, but rather than being an innocent kid who gets caught up in their world as is what usually happens in these kinds of books, he's instead an evil mastermind who has kidnapped one of the fairies, and will only free her in return for gold.

It's an interesting and unique idea that could make a great film. So why hasn't it been made yet? Well, they've been trying, but it's been stuck in development hell for a couple of years now. I really do hope that it does get made, and if you've read Twilight, but haven't read these, then seriously, go buy a copy. You won't regret it.

PROS:

1. What can I say? It's just made to be the next Harry Potter!

CONS:

1. Someone gets their hands on it, who has no respect for the source material.

2. They try to dumb it down, and make a more mainstream franchise.

3. They get the wrong cast for it. The characters are deep, and can't simply be cast. It takes quite a bit of consideration....

4. By the time it gets made, all of the fans will have forgotten about it.

5. The casual movie goer decides to see the new Transformers flick instead.

Odds of this being the next big franchise: (If it ever gets made) 9/10

Anyway, I hope that you've enjoyed this study of literature, and the great film franchises that could be. Did I leave any out? Is there one series that you know has the potential to be the next Harry Potter and more? Leave a comment, and I'll talk to you later.