Sometimes figuring out who you are means understanding that we are a mosaic of experiences. I’m Dumplin’. And Will and Willowdean. I’m fat. I’m happy. I’m insecure. I’m bold.

Dumplin’ is based on Julie Murphy’s young adult novel of the same name, which focuses on the fraught relationship between Macdonald’s high school student Willowdean and her mother Rosie. As a former pageant queen, Rosie has never gotten over her early triumphs and Willowdean or Dumplin’, as her mother calls her, much to the slightly overweight teen’s dismay, they don’t see eye to eye on much. Although her early years were happily spent being raised by someone else: her vivacious Aunt Lucy, who loved every bit of Willowdean and encouraged her to always be herself. The movie plot revolves around Dumplin’s life with her mother and Aunt Lucy too for that matter of fact, who’s no longer with her.

The modern-day female friendship depicted in this movie should be encouraged on-screen more, one that veers away from boring jealousies and cheap fights over boys. This coming-of-an-age tale also shows how not every teen girl in crisis needs saving and the need to change herself. The revelation that Willowdean’s vivacious, plus-sized aunt wanted to compete in Rosie’s pageants forces her to do something kind of wild, the sort of plot twist that’s both necessary and totally obvious: she decides to compete in this year’s pageant. She’s not hoping to get made over into a teen beauty queen, she just wants to smash wide open an antiquated system that punished her aunt and twisted her mother. Inevitably, she inspires a whole mess of misfits to follow suit, upending Rosie’s pageant and Willowdean’s entire life.

The film isn’t a story that uses a skinny, conventionally pretty protagonist to pick apart a realm that rewards women exactly like her. It’s more imaginative than that, open to the idea that beauty itself is more expansive and subjective. This film targets the young women who struggle to see themselves in TV and movies, and this feel-good comedy reminds them that they’re beautiful just the way they are. It’s a lesson worth learning, and Dumplin’ is a film well worth your time. Just make sure you have tissues.

Did you enjoy Dumplin’? Tell us in the comments below!

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Based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Julie Murphy, the movie is set in small-town Texas, teenage Willowdean Dickson (Danielle Macdonald) grew up loving two things: her free-spirited Aunt Lucy (Hilliary Begley) and country superstar Dolly Parton. After her aunt dies, Will struggles to feel comfortable in her own skin — a problem made all the more difficult by her mother, Rosie (Jennifer Aniston), an ex-beauty queen who now runs the local pageant and shares little in common with her daughter.

Hoping to shake things up and rattle her mother, Will enters the Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant. To her surprise, however, other girls follow suit and work together to show everyone that beauty comes from within. Will’s journey of self-discovery leads her well out of her comfort zone, into everything from high heels to a drag bar full of Dolly Parton impersonators. While her aunt may be gone, she finds a new mentor in Lucy’s friend Lee (Harold Perrineau), a drag queen who helps prepare her for the stage. (Also on hand is Lee’s wisecracking cohort, Candee Disch, played by Ginger Minj).

Meanwhile, Rosie has her own struggles: She’s still mourning the loss of her sister, and her tense relationship with her daughter seems beyond repair. Ultimately, Rosie needs to free herself from worrying what others think and accept her daughter for who she is. With a support system that includes her girlfriends, drag friends and Dolly Parton as her spirit guide, Willowdean learns that maybe she’s not so alone after all, and, to quote one of her favorite Dolly-isms, “If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.”

Dumplin’ is directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal, 27 Dresses) with a screenplay by Kristin Hahn. The soundtrack features several reworked versions of Dolly Parton classics, along with new material co-written by Parton and Linda Perry.

Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$) plays Willowdean and her mother, Rosie, is being played by the talented Jennifer Aniston (Iron Giant, Marley and Me, We’re the Millers). Bo will be played by Luke Benward (Dear John and Life of the Party). The gang of girls are Ellen (Odeya Rush, Lady Bird), Bekah (Dove Cameron, Descendants 1 and 2 and Hairspray Live!), Hannah (Bex Taylor-Klaus, Hell Fest), and Millie (Maddie Brown, Hairspray Live!).

Dumplin‘ hits Netflix internationally on December 7th.

Will you be watching Dumplin‘? Tell us in the comments below!

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Mary Poppins Returns

Aquaman

Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world. Starring Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), Amber Heard (Magic Mike XXL), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man), Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones), Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Get Down), and Nicole Kidman (The Hours).

Dumplin’

Willowdean (‘Dumplin’), the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen, signs up for her mom’s Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow her footsteps, revolutionising the pageant and their small Texas town. Starring Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$), Aniston (We’re the Millers), Luke Benward (Dear John), Odeya Rush (Lady Bird), Dove Cameron (Descendants), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Hell Fest), and Maddie Brown (Hairspray Live!).

Mary Queen of Scots

Bumblebee

Mortal Engines

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Second Act

Holmes and Watson

Vice

Which movie are you most excited to see? Tell us in the comments below!

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When the news broke that Julie Murphy’s Dumplin‘ was being adapted into a movie, fans of the young adult novel were incredibly excited. Now with the movie tie-in book cover released and a new still of Jennifer Aniston putting on her crown, the Netflix Original is getting closer, so let’s take a look at what we know so far!

Playing our leading lady, Willowdean, is Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$) and mother, Rosie, is being played by the talented Jennifer Aniston (Iron Giant, Marley and Me, We’re the Millers). Bo will be played by Luke Benward (Dear John and Life of the Party). The gang of girls are Ellen (Odeya Rush, Lady Bird), Bekah (Dove Cameron, Descendants 1 and 2 and Hairspray Live!), Hannah (Bex Taylor-Klaus, Hell Fest), and Millie (Maddie Brown, Hairspray Live!).

Anna Fletcher is set to direct. She has directed many rom-coms including The Proposal, 27 Dresses, and Hot Pursuit.

“The reason I responded to this is because, when I was growing up, I had none of these movies telling me, ‘It doesn’t matter what you look like, you’re still perfect the way you are,’” Fletcher says. “There’s just so many layers to it that I love, and if this can affect girls and women in a positive way, that will make me so happy.”

The writer is Kristin Hahn who is also writing the script for Stargirl (a middle grade novel written by Jerry Speneili).

Author Julie Murphy has also written a sequel for the novel, Puddin’, which follows the perspective of Millie. She has also written Ramona Blue and Side Effects May Vary. Dumplin’ was published on September 15th 2015 and it has remained to be one of Murphy’s most popular novel. Murphy has been excited from the very beginning. The movie is also supposed to be a Drama/Musical even though Murphy has confirmed that it is not, but music is a big part of the movie and the novel.

Dolly Parton, who Willowdean adores in the novel, and so the soundtrack features several reworked versions of Dolly Parton classics, along with new material co-written by Parton and Linda Perry.

“The movie touched me deeply, and I hope people will be touched by it as well,” says Parton, who collaborates with Sia, Mavis Staples, Miranda Lambert and others on the soundtrack. She adds, “I really hope that people go away from this movie feeling better about themselves. I know I did.”

The film is set to be released on December 7th internationally on Netflix. With the release date drawing near, we certainly can expect a trailer very soon! – Update: The trailer has been released today! [15/11/18] Check it out below!

Official Synopsis:

In small-town Texas, teenage Willowdean Dickson (Danielle Macdonald) grew up loving two things: her free-spirited Aunt Lucy (Hilliary Begley) and country superstar Dolly Parton. After her aunt dies, Will struggles to feel comfortable in her own skin — a problem made all the more difficult by her mother, Rosie (Jennifer Aniston), an ex-beauty queen who now runs the local pageant and shares little in common with her daughter.

Hoping to shake things up and rattle her mother, Will enters the Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant. To her surprise, however, other girls follow suit and work together to show everyone that beauty comes from within.

Will’s journey of self-discovery leads her well out of her comfort zone, into everything from high heels to a drag bar full of Dolly Parton impersonators. While her aunt may be gone, she finds a new mentor in Lucy’s friend Lee (Harold Perrineau), a drag queen who helps prepare her for the stage. (Also on hand is Lee’s wisecracking cohort, Candee Disch, played by Ginger Minj.)

Meanwhile, Rosie has her own struggles: She’s still mourning the loss of her sister, and her tense relationship with her daughter seems beyond repair. Ultimately, Rosie needs to free herself from worrying what others think and accept her daughter for who she is.

With a support system that includes her girlfriends, drag friends and Dolly Parton as her spirit guide, Willowdean learns that maybe she’s not so alone after all, and, to quote one of her favorite Dolly-isms, “If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.”

Are you excited for the movie? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Dumplin’: Everything We Know About The Movie appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From best-selling YA novels such as Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and Dumplin’, to Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer and the adaptation of the Alita graphic novels. Plus then you have classics such as A Wrinkle In Time and Fahrenheit 451.

This is by no means a definitive list as there are many adaptations scheduled for release in 2018, however, there are quite a few that have received no updates so perhaps they may be bumped to 2019. But, we have compiled a list of books that are being adapted into movies and TV this year for you to check out on Goodreads.

Read on to discover what’s coming book adaptations are hitting the theatres in 2018 and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited for!

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

The Death Cure by James Dashner / January 26 / TRAILER
Thomas leads some escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Starring Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo Esposito and Ki Hong Lee.

12 Strong

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton / January 26 / TRAILER
In the wake of Sept. 11, Capt. Mitch Nelson leads a U.S. Special Forces team into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. Once there, the soldiers develop an uneasy partnership with the Northern Alliance to take down the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies. Starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire), and Taylor Sheridan (Sons of Anarchy).

Annihilation

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer / February 22
A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don’t apply. Starring Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Oscar Isaac (The Last Jedi), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Atypical), Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok), and Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin).

Every Day

Every Day by David Levithan / February 23 / TRAILER
Rhiannon falls in love with A, a mysterious spirit who inhabits a different body every day, but loving someone who is a different person every 24 hours isn’t easy. Starring Angourie Rice (Spider-Man Homecoming), Debby Ryan, Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man Homecoming), and Justice Smith (The Get Down).

Red Sparrow

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews / March 2 / TRAILER
Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to ‘Sparrow School’ a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. But her first mission, targeting a CIA agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations. Starring Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Joel Edgerton (Bright) and Jeremy Irons (Batman v Superman).

Love, Simon

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli / March 16
Everyone deserves a great love story, but for Simon, it’s a little more complicated. Starring Katherine Langford and Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why), Jennifer Garner (Dallas Buyers Club), Josh Duhamel (Safe Haven), Colton Haynes (Arrow), and Nick Robinson (Jurassic World).

A Wrinkle In Time

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle / March 23 / TRAILER
The film begins after disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him. Starring Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World), Chris Pine (Wonder Woman), Reese Witherspoon (Big Little Lies), Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), Oprah Winfrey and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover).

Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline / March 29 / TRAILER
The creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies and he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune. Wade Watts finds the first clue and starts a race for the Egg. Starring Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse), Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel), Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One), Mark Rylance (Dunkirk), Simon Pegg (Star Trek), T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley),and Hannah John-Kamen (Killjoys).

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple / May 11
After her anxiety-ridden mother disappears, 15-year-old Bee does everything she can to track her down, discovering her troubled past in the process. Starring Cate Blanchett (Thor Ragnarok), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), and Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars).

Alita: Battle Angel

Alita by Yukito Kishiro / July 20
An action-packed story of one young woman’s journey to discover the truth of who she is and her fight to change the world starring Rosa Salazar (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials).

Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan / August 17
Three aristocratic Chinese families’ love of gossip and backstabbing runs rampant when the heir to a huge fortune returns to marry his Chinese-American girlfriend. Starring Constance Wu (Fresh Off The Boat), Michelle Yeoh (Star Trek Discovery), Gemma Chan (Transformers The Last Knight), Awkwafina, Ken Jeong (Dr Ken) and Harry Shum Jr (Shadowhunters).

The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken / September 14
After a disease kills 98% of America’s children, the surviving 2% develop superpowers and are placed in internment camps. A 16-year-old girl escapes her camp and joins a group of other teens on the run from the government. Starring Amandla Stenberg (Everything, Everything), Mandy Moore (This Is Us) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones).

Boy Erased

Boy Erased by Garrard Conley / September 23
The son of a baptist preacher is forced to participate in a church-supported gay conversion program. Starring Troye Sivan, Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies), Joel Edgerton (Bright) and Russel Crowe.

First Man

First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen / October 12
A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Starring Ryan Gosling (La La Land) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

The Girl In The Spider’s Web

The Girl In The Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz / October 19
Young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist find themselves caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt government officials, which stars Claire Foy (The Crown).

Mortal Engines

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve / December 14
Many years after the “Sixty Minute War,” cities survive a now desolate Earth by moving around on giant wheels attacking and devouring smaller towns to replenish their resources. Starring Hera Hilmar (Da Vinci’s Demons), Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings), and Robert Sheehan (Misfits). 

Dumplin’

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy / TBD
A girl with the nickname “Dumplin'” enters a beauty pageant in order to win over the boy she likes and stick it to the other girls at school. Starring Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$), Odeya Rush (Goosebumps), Dove Cameron (Descendants), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Scream 2015), Maddie Baillio (Hairspray Live), and Jennifer Aniston (Friends).

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury / TBD
In a terrifying care-free future, a young man, Guy Montag, whose job as a fireman is to burn all books, questions his actions after meeting a young girl…and begins to rebel against society. Starring Michael B. Jordan (Creed), Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) and Sofia Boutella (Kingsman).

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han / TBD
A teenage girl’s secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life. Starring Lana Condor (X-Men: Apocalypse), Noah Centineo (The Fosters) and Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars).

Bel Canto

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett / TBD
A world-renown opera singer becomes trapped in a hostage situation when she’s invited to perform for a wealthy industrialist in South America. Starring Julianne Moore (Still Alice) and Ken Watanabe (Godzilla).

Ashes In The Snow

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys / TBD
In 1941, an aspiring artist and her family are deported to Siberia amidst Stalin’s brutal dismantling of the Baltic region. In a seemingly hopeless place, love is the only means of survival. Starring Bel Powley (A Royal Night Out), John Hauer-King (Little Women) and Martin Wallström (Mr Robot).

Black Hand

Black Hand by Will Thomas / TBD
Police officer, Joe Petrosino, seeks justice against a ruthless Italian-American gang in New York. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Which one are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 2018 Book To Film Adaptations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We are always been begging for the next cast member announcement, a trailer, set photos, or anything from upcoming films, especially when it comes to book-to-film adaptions! From All the Bright Places to Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, here are some upcoming YA book-to-movie adaptations scheduled for release in 2018 or in the near future!

Read on and tell us in the comments below which one you are most excited for!

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Plot (from Goodreads): “Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.”

News: Elle Fanning has been the only casting announcement made so far and she will be playing Violet. However, the author is playing games on who she wants to play Finch on her Instagram, so we highly recommend following her! There is no set release date for the film yet.

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle

Plot: A girl is supposed to go to her grandma’s house after her parents get arrested, she gets stuck on the train due to a snow storm. A group of friends try to make it to a Waffle House, in the middle of the same snow storm. A girl set’s out to find something which is later stolen from her.

News: Although this was supposed to be out in 2016, the film was pushed to November of this year. Luke Snellin, the same director from the adaption of John Green’s The Fault in our Stars, will also be directing this movie. With official date having been released or even a cast, the film looks like it will be getting pushed back once more!

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Plot: When Lara Jean is over a boy, she would write them a letter to tell them how much she had loved them. When those mysterious letters get sent out to all of the boys she has written to, she must live with the consequences.

News: IT IS FINALLY BECOMING A MOVIE!! They already have a full cast list, including Lana Condor (X-Men: Apocalypse) as Lara Jean and Noah Centineo (The Fosters) as Peter. Filming has also begun, but no official word on release date, although it will more than likely be around May or June next year.

Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson

Plot (from Goodreads): “Before the war, Eden’s life was easy—air conditioning, ice cream, long days at the beach. Then the revolution happened, and everything changed. Now a powerful group called the Wolfpack controls the earth and its resources. Eden has lost everything to them. They killed her family and her friends, destroyed her home, and imprisoned her. But Eden refuses to die by their hands. She knows the coordinates to the only neutral ground left in the world, a place called Sanctuary Island, and she is desperate to escape to its shores. Eden finally reaches the island and meets others resistant to the Wolves—but the solace is short-lived when one of Eden’s new friends goes missing. Braving the jungle in search of their lost ally, they quickly discover Sanctuary is filled with lethal traps and an enemy they never expected. This island might be deadlier than the world Eden left behind, but surviving it is the only thing that stands between her and freedom.”

News: It hasn’t even been three months since this book was released and we already have news on it being turned into a film. Leonardo DiCaprio is on board to be a producer for the movie with Paramount Pictures.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Plot: In the middle of the Black Lives Matter movement, it is tough for Starr (Amandla Stenberg, The Hunger Games) since she is one of the few African-Americans who goes to a prep school. When she sees her friend get shot down by a police officer, heat starts to rise inside Starr.

News: Only few have been cast in the production alongside Stenberg. The director for the film is George Tillman JR (The Longest Ride) and screenwriter is Audrey Wells (A Dogs Purpose).

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Plot (from EpicReads): “Dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom (Aniston), Willowdean has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.”

News: The film is well underway with casting and they have found their lead actor in Danielle Macdonald (Patty Cake$). Alongside Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Dove Cameron (The Descendants), Odeya Rush (The Giver), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Arrow), and Maddie Baillio (Hairspray Live!) will also star. Kristen Hahn will write (Anthem) and produce the film with Michael Costigan (Ghost in the Shell, 2017).

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