Good literature inspires good cinema! That’s true for many genres but moreso for the sciene fiction. Many great sci-fi movies like The Martian or Arrival could trace their success back to great books. It’s also a safe bet for studios since they are investing in stories that already have a eager fanbase. However, adapting science fiction literature to the big screen can be one of the most dauting tasks a director can take up. They need to meet the expectations of the fans, find a way to show on screen what was printed in pages, keep the story succinct, respet authors’ world building and characters, the list goes on and on. But the recent success of adaptations has proved sci-fi fans love a transition from paper to the silver screen if the execution is right and the source material is respected. But why adapt? Well to put it bluntly while reading is a good habit its not a practical option for everyone and a vast majority of people would prefer watching a movie to reading a book.
While there are many different kinds of literature to choose from, graphic novels are often overlooked despite the success of movies like V for Vendetta and Watchmen. However, the serious fans will tell you there is a huge untapped potential if you know your graphic novels well enough. There is an ocean of graphic novels across genres that have not yet been adapted. With so many great options available directors should have not shortage of options when looking for source materials. With that in mind, here is my pick of 10 graphic novels that should be made into a movie.
1. The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra
WIth the massive success of Oppenheimer there has never been a better time to adapt The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra. The biggest selling point for this story is the way it combines history with fiction. however, the story’s historical accuracy ends there after that its al fiction. THe premise of the novel is that the project was just a front for numerus secret government projects run by morally challenged scientists. Some of the famous scientists you’d find in it are Robert Oppenheimer who suffers from multiple personalities disorder and a locked up Einstein. The story has everything that you’d want in a hit movies’ screenplay. It is full of humor, satire, absurd innovations like a scientist who is just a radiological mass, intriguiing characters, pan-dimensional space, mythological artifacts from discarded space, artificial intelligence, and the deconstruction of an alien spaceship intricate and captivating plot points which are explored over 6 volumes. In the right hands this could even lead to a franchise. We know how Quentin loves making movies with alterenate history and this could be the perfect project for him if he still wants to make a sci-fi movie.
Hickman’s novel is a retelling of an important part of american history. On the big screen would be a dark bitter humorous movie that shows a morally starved world and throws and appalling light on science and government without conscience (or with a desecrated version of conscience) but at the same time withyout being too serious - maybe it’s the perfect sci-fi project for Quentin Tarantino
2. On a Sunbeam (Tillie Walden)
Putting our Government’s dark histories aside for a moment, Putting dark history aside for a moment, take a look at a strange tale that is On a sunbeam. On a sunbeam can’t truly be put into any one genre. It has elements of both science fiction and romance. The story follows Mia who works in a maintenance spaceship that rebuilds broken structures. Howver her sole purpose for joining the ship is not to rebuild structures but rebuild an old relationship by reconnecting with her lost love. The story takes you on an emotional rollercosaster that will make you laugh and cry sometimes both at the same time. The second half of the novel however is more action loaded and less emotionally charged.
The writer’s imaginative storytelling combined with the desperation and hope that accompany the characters make On a Sunbeam a worthy candidate for a memorable romantic sci-fi film with some good action sequences as well - this could end up being the movie that has everything!
3. Sentient (Jeff Lemire)
Imagine a group of children stuck in a colony ship in deep space forced to survive on their own after all the adults on the ship get murdered. THe only help they have is the guidance of the onboard AI VALARIE. While survival is the strongest instinct in humans distrust towards AI is the most common sentiment. So the idea that these children now have no other option but to trust AI for survival is an extremely interesting premise.
That’s roughly the setup of Sentient by Jeff Lemire. It features plenty of science fiction tropes such as an space pirate invasion, kids in space, AI learning to be a human and a colony ship. A young adult science fiction like Sentient which is a bit soft on science but deals with dystopia, identity and spaceship drama is rare these days so this is definitely a unique novel. Lemire’s novel would be absolutely perfect for horror space opera movie or even a miniseries, and someone needs to tip off the studio executives.
4. Worlds of Aldebaran by Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira
Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira’s Worlds of Aldebaran may sound like science-fiction roleplaying game, but its actually the name of his book that was first released in 1994. The simple but potent idea of humans trying to capture distant planet when Earth becomes inhabitable due to global warming and religious wars would capture the imagination of any sci-fi fan. Even though the plot sounds like something Elon Musk would talk about (in one of his seminas) it is definitely a great place to start a science fiction story.
Though it shares some similarities to the beloved space adventure star trek, it also leans into many of the less popular sci-fi mainstays like corrupt church, body horror and suicide. The novels main focus is colonists dealing with planet level issues that arise due to human error, however the novel does have a tragic tone when it deals with personal problems. Oliveira’s book with it space western feel is long overdue for staggering and thrilling series.
5. The Incal By Alejandro Jodorowsky
In 1980 Alejando Jordowsky creating a fascinating science fiction tale called the Incal which would later be seen as one of the most legendary French-Belgian Comic. If you have seen the documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune(2013) then you have probably heard about it. Jordowsky’s motivation behind this comic is just as notoriously famous as the comic itself. He wanted to adapt Dune for the big screen but he ended up changing the story too much and the screenplay ended up being 14 hour long. So naturally he couldn’t get the budget for it but he did convert it into a graphic novel of its own with the help of French artist Jean Giraud or Mœbius.
This beautiful piece of graphic literature revolves around John Difool, a low class detective in a degenerate dystopian world, who finds his life turned upside down when he discovers an ancient, mystical artifact called “The Incal”. THe character and the main story line is definitely something that would attract even the sci-fi fans who aren’t aware of the novel itself. Moreover, tHe artwork itself, if translated properly, could lead to visually stunning movie or a series.
6. Joe Haldeman’s The Forever War
As far as filmable and adaptable premises it go it doesn’t get any better than this novel. The The premise alone of this series should warrant an adaptation, although it’s definitely not for the faint of heart at all because to some extent it shows the reality of war. Haldmen tells the story about human soldiers fighting in a interstellar war with a hostlie alien enemy civilization the Taurans. In many ways the Forever war is the pioneer of the sci-fi military genre along with Heinlein’s Starship Troopers.’ However once you read it you will have an entirely different experience than Startship troopers or even Man’s war by Scalzi. You follow the story through the eyes of the main protagonist William Mandela who is just an ordinary person studying physics at a university but is pulled into the war to contribute. Even though you may find several aspects of worldbuilding to be a bit unnerving like the views on homosexuality the novel is definitely a masterpiece and deserving of an adaptation.
THe rights to adapt The Forever War has moved through various hands in hollywood since 1988 with Ridley Scott being the one to hold the right at one point. In 2015 Warner Bros acqiored the right to adapt the film and have started the development of the script however so far nothing has come to fruitiion. It’s not surprising why so many big names want to adapt this film because if done right it surely has the potential to be a genre defining project.
7. Global Frequency Warren Ellis
The Sci-fi epic Global Frequency has everything: emotionally charging drama, incredible action, mystery, engaging character development and a bone chilling plotline. The series is just as great as Planetary - another creation of Ellis. The novel already has an army of fans behind it, and for good reason. The premise of the novel is as appealing as it gets. THe novel follows the operations of an intelligence agency that counters that governements and protects the people from the governments’ secret projects.
So far there have been two attempts at adapting the novel into a tv series once by Warner Bros and the second time by Fox. However, both times the project was dropped due to problems with the script. This sci-fi series of 12 issues has a near perfect plot with tons of interesting subplots involving some of the most intriguing motifs like fights with alien, corrupt governments and use of futuristic technology making it an ideal contender for the development of a netflix show or a multiple part movie.
8. Not All Robots - Mark Russell
In 2021 Mark Russell delivered a fascinating science fiction satirical social commentary in the form of the novel Not All Robots. The central premise of Not All Robots is that every human family is completely reliant on a robot assigned to them to earn their wages. The novel follows Walter family who suspect that their robot is building machines to kill them like many other robots in other families have tried to. Are these robots faulty or are they just unhappy and unappreciated? Is there any hope left for the humans? The story has everything you’d want to see in a movie about robots.
Though it shares some similarities to chatoic futiristic series like Love death and robots it deals with the idea of mutual existence of machines and humans with huge amounts of of dark and heavy humor. An animated series or a movie where sociological impact of AI is explored sounds like a great project for the current times where the evolution of Artificial Intelligence is rapidly gaining momentum and we are being rocketed towards a world where we coexist with robots.
9. We3 by writer Grant Morrison
The name We3 might not sound all too familiar to general audiences, but the novel by Grant Morrison actually inspired several elements in the beloved Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. When looking at what makes a science fiction movie entertaining, three cybernetic animals that are created by the governmment and are trying to get home feels like a winning recipe. This critically acclaimed comic mini book series is both intellecutally and emotionally engaging and has perhaps one of the most tragic stories in all of comic book history.
We3 also has the added inclusion of aliens, pirates and futuristic tech all of which result in horrific scenarios where someone’s life is almost always in danger. Even though adapting this novel can be a bit daunting and challenging but it would be tremendous accomplisment if done while respecting the author’s vision/properly. After all wouldn’t you want to see how a dog, cat and rabbit suffering from human cruelty fight for their freedom?
10. The Coffin - Phil Hester
The combination of science fiction and superheros is bound to be a winning one in the world of movies. The Coffin follows Dr. Ashtar Ahmad who is pursuing the dream of immortality by building a suit the can store the soul even after the physical body dies and the person can live on forever. However his research comes to an abrupt halt when a tycoon kidnaps his daugther and asks for doctor’s suit as ransom. It’s twisted, it’s firghtening, it’s darkly funny, it’s everything you would expect from such a premise.
While the novel does have some of the mainstays of a classic sci-fi superhero or supervillian origin story Like Dr. Freeze, it definitely has one of the most original approaches to a thriller. The ardent fans of the novel will tell you that even the story is basic the execution is specatcular and the story will keep you on the edge of the seat as you follow Dr. Ashtar Ahman. Wester’s book may have been published in 2001, but there is still nothing quite like it in the film industry 20 years later, and this needs to change by adapting this novel into an action packed and thrilling gory sci-fi flick.