Movie Mondays: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

BRAND NEW FEATURE ALERT! A month or so ago I did the Top Ten Tuesday topic of books I'd like to see turned into a movie or a TV show. Once I started thinking of books I'd love to see come to life, I couldn't stop. With the release of movies like Catching Fire, Vampire Academy, and Divergent and the upcoming The Giver, The Fault in Our Stars, and The Maze Runner, plus the TV version of The 100, it seems like YA on the big screen is all the rage now (YIPPEE!). With the announcement of the imminent production of an adaptation of Paper Towns, I started thinking of other YA books I'd like to see filmed.

And lo, a new feature was born!

For my Top Ten Tuesday, I decided to go even further and didn't just choose books I'd like to see adapted, but I created posters for them using my Supah Awesome Photoshop Skillz. And then I kept thinking of more books and wanting to create more posters and even cast them in my head. One book in particular is, to me, begging to be put on the big screen. Which book, do you ask?

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE, EVEN THOUGH I'VE GIVEN AWAY THE ANSWER IN THE TITLE OF THE POST!

Keep Reading ------>


The Movie

Cinder by Marissa Meyer!

My reviews of Cinder | Scarlet | Cress
Related: Cinder Fortune Cookies



Why I chose this to be filmed: Think how gorgeous New Beijing would look brought to life! This series is so cinematic to me, full of clear visuals and a fast-paced, compelling plot. Please, Movie Gods. Make this happen, please. I know my weak use of photoshoppery is not the compelling argument you need, but STILL. Dooooo ittttt.

The Cast

Linh Cinder: Shay Mitchell



Why: Cinder's looks are never fully laid out for us beyond being tanned with brown hair and brown eyes, but in interviews and on Pinterest and other places, I've heard Meyer describe her as being of mixed ancestry. Garan found her as a small girl in Europe, though it's never explained if she looks European or not. To say I had a heck of a time casting Cinder would be an understatement, but I eventually chose Shay because A) I like her on Pretty Little Liars and B) she is of partial Filipino descent, meaning she could conceivably pass as being a citizen of the Eastern Commonwealth.

Plus, I can just picture her being all practical and awesome and Cinderly. Plus she has super shiny hair.

Prince Kai: Joon Ji Hoon



Why: UM, BECAUSE I LOVE HIM DEARLY AND DESPERATELY? I know Prince Kai is most likely of Japanese descent, and Joon Ji Hoon is Korean, but he's been the perfect Kai to me since I swooned over him in Goong/Princess Hours. I mean, he played a crown prince on that show! It's too perfect.

I'm resisting the urge to make this entire post pictures of Joon Ji Hoon and his teddy bear.

Queen Levana: Bipasha Basu



Why: I had noooo idea who to cast as Levana and stole this casting unashamedly from Marissa Meyer's Pinterest. SUE ME. But oh, does she make a perfect and gorgeous evil Lunar queen.

Adri: Joan Chen



Why: Doesn't that pic look so much like a look Cinder's wicked stepmother would give her?

Peony: Xu Jiao



Why: Look at her! Isn't she just the cutest? She'd make an adorable Peony, Cinder's beloved younger stepsister.

Pearl: Jessica Lu



Why: I love her on Awkward, and I feel like she could totally play the stepsister who is less than thrilled by Cinder's presence in her family.

I could not for the life of me cast Dr. Ehrland. Sorry, good doctor. I'm sure the actual Hollywood peeps could do a much better job. And Iko! Sorry, Iko. There is a serious dearth of good robots working in Hollywood nowadays. I'll do better next time. (Insert joke here about how all people in Hollywood are robots blah blah)

So that was the first movie Monday! This may become a bi weekly or weekly thing or just a once in a blue Monday thing.

ETA: Apparently the awesome Jenna at Jenna Does Books has a similar feature and, because the universe is hilarious like this, she brought it back after a year's hiatus today. Click here to check out her casting of Grasshopper Jungle!