From Books to Movies..The Rumor Mill.

I’m a chick lit fan, there are times when I glom the hell out of chick lit authors and I absolutely love these kinds of books. Some of my favorite chick lit books are The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot, Queen of Babble (the whole series) by Meg Cabot and the Heather Wells books by Meg Cabot. I’d love to see any of these books made into movies (either made for tv movies or blockbuster movies, don’t matter to me).

Does anyone even like Chick Lit? What about Chick Lit inspired movies? Would you guys watch them?

Anyway, so I found this site (which is a really cool chick lit site, I might add) that has a list of chick lit books that I love that are being turned into movies, here’s a list of movies that are in production right now and will be out soon:

1. Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter.

Filming is under with Heather Locklear playing the role of Jackie in a TV movie adaptation of Jane Porter’s Flirting with Forty. Jackie is a divorced mother of two who becomes romantically involved with a much younger man while on holiday on the brink of her 40th birthday. It will screen as a holiday movie on the Lifetime network in December.

I love Lifetime movies so I’m totally going to be watching this one, now that I have DVR, I will not miss this one!

2. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

Australian actress Isla Fisher (of Wedding Crashers and engaged to Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen) has stepped into the shoes of Rebecca Bloomwood. Filming began in Connecticut in February. Some Sophie Kinsella fans are up in arms because Fisher is to play Rebecca as an American. Former model Krysten Ritter (Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars) has been cast as best friend Suze while Hugh Dancy (The Jane Austen Book Club) has been cast, reportedly as her boss and/or Luke. John Goodman and Joan Cusack are playing her parents. Other actors who have signed on include Kristin Scott Thomas, John Lithgow and Lynn Redgrave. Australian director P.J. Hogan (Muriel’s Wedding, My Best Friend’s Wedding) and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Top Gun) are also involved in the project. The movie is due to be released for Valentine’s Day 2009.

Even though this series got on my hot damn nerves, the first book cracked me up so I can totally see myself going to the theaters with my friends (dragging them even if I have to) to see this one…and I like Isla Fisher. Hugh Dancy as Luke? WOO FRICKIN HOO, I LOVE HIM!
And here’s the list of movies that are rumored to be in the making:

1. Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon.

Jennifer Aniston’s film production company Echo Films has bought the film rights to Jane Fallon’s debut novel about Helen whose affair with her married boss is ruined when he decides to leave his wife for her. The Universal Studio movie, with Aniston expected to star and produce, is expected to be out in 2010.

I’ve never seen this book or even heard of this author before but I’d probably want to check it out since I’m probably the only Jennifer Aniston fan out there. LOL.

2. Falling out of Fashion by Karen Yampolsky.

This debut novel by Karen Yampolsky about Jill White who leaves a hippie commune and heads to New York with dreams of making it as a magazine editor is being produced by Hilary Swank’s 2S Films company. It’s slated for a 2011 release.

I’m not a Hilary Swank fan at all but if it’s a cute movie, I might wait until DVD to check it out but still, I love these girly movies.

3. Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot.

Meg Cabot’s Queen of Babble series is heading for the big screen, with Kristen Bell set to play Lizzie Nichols. The yet untitled movie produced by New-York-based Sharp Independent (Boys Don’t Cry, Evening) will follow Lizzie, a fashion-obsessed American girl who goes to London with her British boyfriend. But when he proves to be a jerk, she falls for someone new in France. The producers have a book-to-film partnership with HarperCollins and announced their option at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

YIPEE!!! I love this series and I can’t wait to see who Hollywood casts as my favorite characters, especially CHAZ! I wonder though, if we’re going to see all of the movies or just the first book because if it’s the first book, dude that’s not going to be fun at all….because the third book is my favorite, but then again you can’t love the third book without reading all of the books because you see how far Lizzie comes and how far her and her hero come together, it’s too frickin’ cute. Okay so depending on how they do it (and who they cast) , oh who the hell am I kidding? I am SO going to see this movie as soon as it comes out!

4. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.

Kate Jacob’s The Friday Night Knitting Club is heading for the big screen, courtesy of Universal Pictures. Julia Roberts has been cast as Georgia Walker, the single mum who juggles the demands of running a Manhattan knitting store while raising her teen daughter.

Hmmm, this sounds like something I’d like to check out too….with Julia Roberts? I haven’t seen a movie with her in a long while so yeah, I’d check this out.

5. Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes.

Now in development with Catherine Zeta-Jones reportedly to star in the lead role of this immensely popular chicklit book by Marian Keyes. With director Francesca Joseph attached, it is also expected to star Scott Bakula, of Quantam Leap fame.

I’ve only read one Marian Keyes book and I’ve always wanted to read this one, only I’ve never gotten around to it…if Catherine Zeta Jones is going to be starring in this movie, I’m sure I’ll watch it. Especially since I enjoyed her cooking movie so much (I forget the name of the movie) but it was a delight. This might prove be a good movie as well, especially since the book was such a hit with fans everywhere.

6. If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern.

Another Cecelia Ahern’s novel making it to the big screen courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures. And yet another one linked to Hugh Jackman (he’ll play imaginary friend Ivan). It is tipped to be a musical. The producers have been responsible for other big musical projects such as Chicago, Hairspray and Footloose.

I’ve read this book and liked it quite a bit so I’d love to see this movie. If they make it into a musical, that’d be even better. This book was fun and I’d love to see Hugh Jackman playing Ivan’s carefree self, I’d definitely look forward to this one.

7. The Bachlorette Party by Karen McCulluh Lutz.

The Bachelorette Party, about a jilted woman attending the hen’s party for her cousin who is marrying her best friend, was touted as a 20th Century Fox vehicle for Nicole Kidman. Kidman is now attached as producer, with Leslie Bibb the only cast member announced. McCullah Lutz was a screenwriter on Legally Blonde and 10 Things I Hate About You. Scheduled for 2009 release.

Oohhhh, this sounds like all kinds of interesting. Can’t wait for this one!

8. Something Borrowed & Something Blue by Emily Griffin.

Something Borrowed & Something Blue books have been optioned by Edward Burns’ Wild Ocean Films production company. It says it plans to shoot the stories about best friends Rachel and Darcy as two separate films.

I’ve seen these books in the bookstore every time that I go in there and everytime I want to buy them, only I never do. This is probably one of those books that I’d rather see the movie than read the book, so I’d definitely want to see this.

9. The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn.

Sarah Jessica Parker is reportedly in talks about being involved in a screen version of Karen Quinn’s The Ivy Chronicles, about a woman who starts a consulting business to help privileged pre-schoolers get into New York’s top kindergartens. Jerry Weintraub, of the Ocean’s Eleven franchise, is expected to produce.

Hmmm, I’m not a big SJP fan but this looks pretty cool.

10. The Late Bloomer’s Revolution by Amy Cohen.

Sarah Jessica Parker will reportedly star in the film version of Amy Cohen’s memoir The Late Bloomer’s Revolution. The film will tell the story of a single woman who, following the death of her mother, develops a bond with her father when they both find themselves on the dating scene. Parker will produce the film through her production company Pretty Matches. Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino will direct. Cohen was a writer-producer on sitcoms Caroline in the City and Spin City and a dating columnist for the New York Observer.

Hmmm, I’m not so sure about this one, but it might surprise me…it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye out on it, it might surprise me and end up being really good.

11. The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee.

This Linda Francis Lee book is also known as Ladies Who Lunch. Alias star Jennifer Garner has reportedly signed on for this 20th Century Fox production. It is not yet known if Garner will only produce the movie or if she will also join the cast to play either the Junior League socialite or the woman she has to help. Expected to be released in 2010.

I really enjoyed the one book that I read by LFL and I love Jennifer Garner, so I hope she decides to star in this movie and I would definitely be looking forward to seeing it.

12. The Dirty Girl’s Social Club by Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez.

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez reports progress on the pre-production of this movie, saying the script has been approved and casting is due to take place soon.

Hmmm, I am SO seeing this one.

13. The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski.

Jill Smolinski’s novel about a woman whose life changes when a passenger in her car dies, has been acquired by New Line Cinema. Wendy Finerman Productions, behind The Devil Wears Prada and PS I Love You, is set to produce. Possible 2009 release.

I enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada but PS I Love You, I was disappointed in so I don’t know if I’d want to watch this movie.

14. The Men’s Guide to the Bathroom by Jo Barrett.

This book by Jo Barrett reportedly has been optioned by CBS and Paramount Studios. With Australian actor Hugh Jackman giving the book a “great read and a great laugh” puff on the front cover, it’s no wonder his team Seed Productions has been attached to produce. No word yet on whether it’ll be for TV or cinema.

I’ve read one book by Jo Barrett and I loved it so I’m definitely looking forward to this whatever it’s going to be.

15. Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella.

Another Sophie Kinsella story set for the big screen courtesy of Paramount Pictures. This time Kate Hudson has been linked to play junior marketing executive Emma Corrigan, who confesses her innermost secrets to a plane passenger – only to find he is her company’s American CEO.

I frickin’ love this book and I like Kate Hudson, so I really, really want them to make this book into a movie…I want to know who they’re going to cast as Jack. I loved Jack! Although, this rumor has been making the rounds for YEARS since Holly and I remember hearing it years ago, I just wish they’d hurry up and make the film already, yeesh!

Alrighty then, now I know that rumors are just that, rumors….but I seriously hope that we can see all of these movies come to life. As much as I love these kinds of books and these kinds of movies, I’d really like to see some more period pieces from our historicals and even some of our romantic suspense novels brought to life but I’ve got to ask you:

What book (any genre) would you like to see brought to life in a movie? Any new books that came out that you want to see captured on the big screen?

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