8 Phenomenal Books Begging For New Adaptations

By Samuel Clements /

7. Fahrenheit 451

Published in 1953, Ray Bradbury€™s Fahrenheit 451 explored the dangers of contemporary American politics through a dystopian future. It illustrates the role of literature to work as a political and social commentary, as well as a escapist pastime. The overtly political book predicts a future where books are outlawed, and firemen burn any that remain. The book clearly adheres to George Orwell€™s spectacular quote that €˜who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.€™ Given the political climate where governments have unprecedented access to the internet, this commentary of the need to scrutinise government activities has a fertile foundation. The book features flame filled scenes where firemen burn down remaining books, and where houses containing these remnants of a bygone era are systematically destroyed, meaning that action scenes are plentiful. Likewise the dystopian future where a small group of rebellious or sceptical figures attempt to make sense of the chaos has proven a successful recipe in Hollywood; V for Vendetta, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and Terminator proved this to be true. The book was adapted into a film in 1966, but a modern adaptation has renewed importance; realising the importance of books could kick start a literary revival. At the very least an amazing film could be made from this book, and while the symbolic message may be lost by converting the book into a film, it is clear that a great movie could be made from this landmark novel.