Books into movies: 5 upcoming adaptations for World Book Day

Today is World Book Day, so we're celebrating with a special blog list of upcoming book to movie adaptations. From family-friendly capers to sweeping sci-fi odysseys, there's plenty to look forward to as we anticipate movie release dates in 2021. Scroll down to find out more.

1. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (11th June 2021 TNC)

Beatrix Potter's delightfully mischievous Peter Rabbit first sprang onto the big screen in 2018's film of the same name. As voiced by James Corden, Peter proved to be an irresistible box office draw. So it's little surprise to learn that he's back for another round of adventures, this time in the big city. Peter's adorable sidekicks are all back, including Margot Robbie as Flopsy and Elizabeth Debicki as Mopsy. Flesh and blood newcomers include David Oyelowo, who joins familiar faces Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson.

2. Death on the Nile (17th September 2021 TBC)

Kenneth Branagh returns to the realm of the Agatha Christie mystery with this all-star adaptation of one of her most famous tales. Branagh once again directs and stars, reprising his role as bewhiskered Belgian detective Hercule Poirot who this time is drawn into a Nile river cruise gone awry. When glamorous socialite Gal Gadot is found murdered, Poirot must root out the killer before he or she strikes again. The glitzy ensemble also includes Annette Bening, Armie Hammer, Russell Brand and Rose Leslie.

3. Nomadland (release date TBC)

Frances McDormand delivers another tremendous performance in this hybrid of tender drama and eye-opening documentary. Director Chloe Zhao (The Rider) adapts Jessica Bruder's non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century, bringing us a truly spellbinding story. McDormand is the bereaved woman who has taken to living a nomadic existence in a van following her husband's death. Her odyssey around the heartland of the USA proves eye-opening, inspiring and heartbreaking in equal measure, Zhao threading the fictional narrative around encounters with real-life nomadic communities. Could this get McDormand her third Oscar?

4. Cruella (26th May 2021 TBC)

Dodie Smith's much-loved story One Hundred and One Dalmatians has already inspired one of the most iconic Disney animations of all time. In 1996, we got a live-action remake with Glenn Close as the cackling, fur-loving Cruella De Vil. Next year (all being well), La La Land Oscar-winner Emma Stone steps into the fabulous costumes of this iconic Disney villain, showing us how Cruella transformed into the infamous, dog-hating fashionista. I. Tony's Craig Gillespie is behind the camera, and the supporting cast includes Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser, Joel Fry and Mark Strong.

5. Dune (1st October 2021 TBC)

First published in 1965, Dune immediately established a reputation as one of the finest sci-fi novels of all time. Author Frank Herbert grounded his intergalactic story in relatively plausible notions of science and ecology, while also letting his imagination run riot across the sand-blasted desert planet of Arrakis. Herbert's complex and intricate story tells of one young man's destiny, and the quest to re-establish his family's name after a shocking betrayal. The vision of Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve meets a formidable sci-fi legacy, with the truly stunning cast including Timothee Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Stellan Skarsgard.