Jef withonef has a great article titled at Houston Pres, “5 Hit Books Hollywood Will Never Film.” (HERE) Each entry includes an explanation of “Why we want it”, “Why it’s a bad idea” and “How about instead we film.”
My favorite non-King entry is House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. That book was crazy! Footnotes that went nowhere, text that went around the page in mathematical circles – or something.
Jef’s list includes:
5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion
4. Neil Gaiman, Sandman
3. Mark Z. Danielewski. House of Leaves
2. Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land
1. Stephen King, Rage
So why does Rage get top position?
Jef writes:
Rage was the first book that King published under the Richard Bachman pseudonym, and follows a deranged high school student that holds his class hostage at gunpoint while forcing them to endure a round of psychological discussions that seriously unhinges them all. It's a violent look at the pressures of youth that so often lead people to brutal violenceJef than explains why this is one really bad idea. If you’ve read the book and the newspaper you know why it’s a bad idea! (what’s a newspaper? Does anyone still get one of those?)
So, what books do you think Hollywood would never film?
In the King world, I’ve already suggested that Gerald’s Game would probably never make it to screen. And it’s starting to feel like the Dark Tower will never get made! The Talisman? How about the rest of Hearts in Atlantis?
