8. The Old Kingdom
Ever since Harry Potter made it big, studios have been desperate for the next young adult magical fantasy novel to transition to silver screen success. Australian author Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series has frequently been named among the best young adult fantasies of recent years. Opening book Sabriel has the eponymous heroine leave her school in Ancelstierre, a broad analogue to 1900s Britain, to travel to the dangerous, magical Old Kingdom in an attempt to rescue her necromancer father from the Dead. It's the right combination of dark magic and teen adventure to sell a new young adult franchise.
How likely is it? Nix has stated that he would only sell the Sabriel film rights as part of a package with a writer and director attached. Back in 2008 this came very close to happening. Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment looked like picking up the rights. Nix and Capote's Dan Futterman co-wrote a screenplay, with Anand Tucker due to direct. Then the writer's strike happened and various productions were pushed back and others dropped. Sabriel was one of the casualties of this reshuffling (Tucker instead made terrible rom-com Leap Year, so maybe we all dodged a bullet). The idea of a film has periodically resurfaced, particularly now with a new book in the Old Kingdom series due next year, but Nix's protective attitude to his story and characters means that a movie is that bit less likely to happen.
Who should star? When the movie was first mooted in 2008 Emma Watson was a popular fan suggestion as a potential Sabriel. Watson may be a little too associated with another major franchise and, at 23, could be too old for the 18 year old necromancer. However, with the character aging 14 years for a supporting role in sequel Lirael, a slightly older actor playing younger might not be a bad idea. The ideal choice would be a young actress with talent and big movie experience, but no baggage of another iconic role. Eleanor Tomlinson, recently seen in The White Queen, gave a decent showing amongst big fantasy effects in the otherwise unsuccessful Jack the Giant Slayer. In that film she showed that she can handle a character who may be a little naive and inexperienced, but quick-witted and with no qualms about confronting dangerous situations.