9 classic films that are being made into TV shows

What’s the film about?

An Exorcist, duh. The 1973 horror flick deals with a demonically-possessed 12-year-old girl and the two priests who attempt to exorcise her. And if you’ve not seen what many critics hail as the best horror film made (or the best film ever, if you’re Mark Kermode) then you’ll definitely recognise its chilling theme music.

How different will the TV show be?

It’s billed as a sequel to the original film and revolves around two priests (not the ones from the film) – played by Sense8’s Alfonso Herrera and Rogue One’s Adam Galloway – as they battle supernatural demons, and also stars Hollywood icon Geena Davis.

When’s it out?

Now, but you probably missed it. It first aired on the Syfy channel at the end of last year, but it’s newly available to buy on Amazon.

8. The Lost Boys

What’s the film about?

This 1987 American horror comedy from Joel Schumacher (yes, the director of Batman & Robin) is about two brothers who end up taking on a gang of Vampires. Vampires that include Kiefer Sutherland with a massive blonde mullet.

How different will the TV show be?

For one thing, it’s going to be massive in its scope. Creator Rob Thomas imagines the new show (due to air on US network CW) as a seven-season anthology-style story, with each season spanning a decade. The first series will be set in 1967 during the Summer of Love, with the vampires in the story not ageing as the human characters change throughout the show’s 70-year plotline.

When’s it airing?

CW haven’t released any information, but it’s likely they’ll want to speed up the production process. Their hit series The Vampire Diaries will be finishing 10th March, leaving the floor empty for another supernatural drama.

9. The Jack Ryan franchise

What are the films about?

Action! Guns! CIA internal politics! Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan has seen it all through the eyes of Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine across five Hollywood blockbusters. And he’s been part of film’s most iconic action sequences on the way, from invading a Soviet submarine in The Hunt for Red October, to impaling Sean Bean on an anchor in Patriot Games.

How different will the TV show be?

Seeing at the sole thread connecting all the films is CIA agent Jack Ryan, the ten-episode Amazon show (called Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) is as similar as it could be. John Krasinski will star as a younger version of the action icon who is sent into the field for the first time after joining the agency. It’s from there he’ll be tackling a terrorist network.

When’s it out?

No premiere date has been set.