Movie Monday: The casting for two great books being turned into movies

I love a good book and I love a good movie. But not all great books turn into great movies. There’s nothing worse than loving a book and being so disappointed when you see that book made all wrong on the big screen.

Sometimes it’s a switch in the plot. Don’t do that to us book lovers.

Sometimes it’s a different ending. That will throw us for a loop!

And sometimes it’s just bad casting. The authors of our favorite books paint a great picture of their characters. That’s literally what they do! They describe things we can’t see on their pages and if they’re good at what they do (and we wouldn’t love the books if they weren’t great at it), we can close our eyes and see that character in our mind. Their hair, their stature, their face.

When that goes wrong when casting a movie, the whole movie just seems off.

But I think you’re going to like these two upcoming movies-based-on-novels that are coming out in 2026.

VERITY
I just read Verity by Colleen Hoover. My neighbor gave me the book to read and I blasted through it in a few days. So good!

And I think this casting fits the bill:
Verity (will be played by Anne Hathaway)
Lowan, the main character (will be played by Dakota Johnson)
The husband (will be played by Josh Hartnett)

I’m glad to see Josh getting back into wide release movies. I’ve missed him. But on the whole, I think that’s great Verity casting. Watch for that movie to come out in May 2026.

HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING
For you Hunger Games fans, the next book/movie goes back in time so we’re seeing our favorite character but in their younger years. I think you’re going to like this casting, too:

Plutarch Heavensbee (will be played by Jesse Plemmons)
Effie Trinket (will be played by Elle Fanning)
Caesar Flickerman (will be played by Kieran Culkin)
Haymitch Abernathy (will be played by Joseph Zada)

Watch for Sunrise on the Reaping in theaters November 2026.

Let Laura McKenna know about your favorite book turned into movie- Email anytime, she’d love to hear from you: [email protected]
And tune in weekdays starting at 10am to St. Croix Country & WCFW!