As a bestselling author known for his imaginative storytelling and heartfelt tales, Matt Haig’s novels are the perfect picks for film and television adaptations. Haig’s ability to write stories about mental health, time, and the human experience in an heart-felt and captivating way has gained him a wide audience and led to each of his books being optioned for TV or film, including his most recent release, The Life Impossible. Get the scoop on which of his book’s are headed for the screen.
A Boy Called Christmas
One of Matt Haig’s most beloved books, A Boy Called Christmas, has already made its debut on Netflix, bringing to life the charming story of a boy named Nikolas who sets out on a magical adventure to find his father. This heartwarming tale is set in a snowy Scandinavian setting and features an all-star cast, including Maggie Smith, Sally Hawkins, and Kristen Wiig. Directed by Gil Kenan, the film follows the book very well and combines fantasy with the Christmas spirit.
Eleven-year-old Nikolas, known as “Christmas” sets out on an adventure to the North Pole to find his missing father, carrying with him his favorite turnip doll. Along the way, he encounters a grumpy reindeer and a mischievous troll, eventually discovering the magical kingdom of Elfhelm, where the Christmas spirit is fading. Nikolas realizes he might be the only one who can restore joy to Elfhelm, but he must reach his father before it is too late.
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The Radleys
Haig’s modern vampire novel, The Radleys, is also set to hit the big screen on October 18, 2024. Starring Damian Lewis, this film is set to release in theaters this fall. The Radleys is a fresh take on the vampire genre, blending horror, suspense, and thought-provoking ideas on the human condition. Interestingly, the book almost didn’t see the light of day according to Haig, who stated that his original publisher dropped him over the novel in 2009.
The Radleys appear to be an ordinary, somewhat dysfunctional family living in a quiet English suburb, but parents Peter and Helen are secretly vampires who have been not drinking blood to give their children a normal life. Their fragile peace is shattered when their daughter Clara, after becoming a vegan, commits a shocking act of violence, forcing her parents to reveal their hidden past. The situation escalates when Uncle Will, a practicing vampire, arrives, stirring temptation and chaos, and threatening to expose dark family secrets and disrupt their lives forever.
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The Midnight Library
Among Haig’s most popular novels, The Midnight Library has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers through its fantastic story of life’s infinite possibilities. StudioCanal has acquired the film rights to The Midnight Library, and the film is currently in pre-production.
In The Midnight Library, there is a magical library that holds an infinite number of books, each representing a different version of one’s life based on the choices they’ve made. Nora Seed, the protagonist, is given the chance to explore these alternate lives, potentially undoing past regrets and realizing unfulfilled dreams. As she navigates the library, Nora must decide which path offers true happiness and what makes life worth living.
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How to Stop Time
How to Stop Time is another of Haig’s novels on its way to the screen from StudioCanal and Sunnymarch, with none other than Benedict Cumberbatch set to take the lead role of Tom Hazard. The adaptation will be directed by Tomas Alfredson, known for his work on Let the Right One In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. With such a stellar team and approval from Matt Haig himself, the How to Stop Time six-part television series adaptation is highly anticipated by any fan of Haig’s works.
Tom Hazard appears to be a typical 41-year-old history teacher, but he hides a dangerous secret: he has been alive for centuries. Having lived through eras ranging from Elizabethan England to the Jazz Age in Paris, Tom constantly changes his identity to evade his past and survive. His one strict rule to ensure his safety is to avoid falling in love, but how long can he do that for?
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The Humans
The rights to The Humans have been sold to Tanya Seghatchian, known for her production of Harry Potter and My Summer of Love. While the adaptation is still in the early development and writing stages, it is known that Matt Haig himself is writing the screenplay. There is no information on the studio, release platform, or release date at this time.
An extraterrestrial visitor, disguised as Professor Andrew Martin, arrives on Earth with a mission to complete and return to his perfect, immortal planet, but is initially repulsed by human life. As he immerses himself in human experiences (drinking wine, enjoying poetry, and forming connections with Martin’s family) he starts to appreciate the complexities and beauty of human existence. Over time, he becomes increasingly conflicted about his mission and begins to question his initial negative impressions of humanity.
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The Last Family in England
The Last Family in England is a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Henry IV from the perspective of a dog. The rights to this adaptation have been sold to Brad Pitt’s movie company, Plan B, and Paramount. There is currently no additional information on the adaptation, its release platform, or its release date.
In this tale narrated by Prince, a loyal black Labrador, the Hunter family’s seemingly ordinary life becomes chaotic as new neighbors and family fighting disrupt their home. Prince, dedicated to the Labrador Pact of “Duty Over All,” faces growing challenges as the family issues escalate, including Adam’s love for the new neighbor and Charlotte’s emotional stress. As the situation worsens and conflicts arise in the park, Prince must break his strict code of duty to protect and save his family from unraveling completely.
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