So... Despite tons of really good books out there that could be converted to screenplay, Hollywood just keep retreading the same old ground...
Dumbasses.
Ringworld. Thieves World. The Wheel of Time. Terry Brooks’ Shannara line-up. Iain M. Bank’s Culture novels. Larry Niven’s Dream Park. Koontz has a bunch of stuff that would translate directly to the screen.
For quirkier stuff, try a screen treatment for the House of Leaves or build a quick story around the Codex Seraphinianus. There’s Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series and his American Gods. If you think the Gods of CGI are smiling on you, you could take a run at Clive Barker’s Imajica, Weaveworld, or Abarat books.
For a bit more action? Try “International Lord of Hate” Larry Coreia’s Dead Six or MHI series. Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series is also a quick-n-easy read that would appeal to a broader base if put on film.
And the list is dang near endless...
American Gods is being turned into a TV Show by Starz. Sandman has been in development hell forever, might someday be a movie or TV show. Fox is supposed to be working on a Lucifer show, but given the way Constantine bombed I’m betting they dump it. As a shared universe the rights on Thieves World are just way too complicated, and get more complicated every time one of the writers dies.
I would love to see Roger Zelazny's Amber series on film. Just imagine one of the hellrides through shadow with modern CGI.
Quite a good list overall, but personally I found Larry Coreia’s Dead Six to be rather boring and predictable for the most part.
Ringworld I could see as really coming off quite well if done right. Perhaps with some version of the Hobbit’s notable feet or tree-dwelling Ewok people, or a combination of the two.
Quote: “So... Despite tons of really good books out there that could be converted to screenplay, Hollywood just keep retreading the same old ground...”
No, its even worse, Hollywood keeps “re-imagining” old films and TV shoes to lend them a “modern/leftist” sensibility.” I am sure the new Escape from New York will feature a NYC that was brought to its knees as a wasteland by the policies of an evil George Bush that lead peaceful islamists into nuking it leaving it with only one purpose, namely, to serve as a huge prison colony. And who will be in that colony? Why, all those evil conservative types.