More “To Kill A Mockingbird” Adaptations
Jem, Dill and Scout will stir up all kinds of kooky trouble, like spying, trespassing, and almost getting murdered in the woods
The hottest ticket on Broadway is “To Kill A Mockingbird,” adapted by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network) from Harper Lee’s novel of the same name. Before going into production, the play was at the center of a protracted legal battle with the Harper Lee estate, which argued that Sorkin’s version deviated too far from the source material. Now that the show is open, the estate has released the rejected pitches from other top scribes who sought the rights to the story.
Amy Sherman-Palladino
In the quirky hamlet of Maycomb, Alabama, Scout and Jem Finch wile away the days bickering, bantering, and exploring the lush period-specific interior sets. Their loving but distant brainiac father Atticus tries his best to give the kids a little lawyerly wisdom, but the generation gap is too wide to bridge (even though Jem and Scout are in some ways more mature than actual adults!). In the hour-long series premiere, the Finches meet their neighbor for the summer, Charles Baker “Dill” Harris, the only kid as adorably neurotic as they are. Together, these three peas in a pod will stir up all kinds of kooky trouble, like spying, trespassing, and almost getting murdered in the woods.
Tony Kushner
A sprawling theatrical epic in three five-hour parts! This adaptation will weave together Harper Lee’s original narrative, her true life story, the life of Truman Capote, scenes from Capote’s most famous works, the struggle of African-Americans in the South from the time of slavery until today, and the Hebrews’ exodus from Egypt. Steven Spielberg is already committed to directing the film version.
Ryan Murphy
Starring Sarah Paulson as Atticus, this FX limited series directly confronts the novel’s themes of race, class and the weakness of the judicial system in every episode. “American Crime Story: Mayella Ewell vs Tom Robinson” will be riveting, unflinching, and possibly terrifying. It is the one show that all Americans need to see. Due to the graphic depictions of sex and violence, and the historically-accurate use of the N-word, viewers under thirteen are advised not to watch.
Lena Dunham
In this ten-ep dramedy for HBO, the precocious and talkative Scout Finch wrestles with her unrequited romantic feelings for Boo, the one guy in town weird enough to make her feel normal. Her only confidante is her gay best friend Dill, whose search for his estranged father takes him across the country in a heartbreaking one-off episode halfway through the series. Later, Scout attends church with her maid Calpurnia, where she sees a vision of Jesus, who is black (indie song for epiphany montage TBD). The trial of Tom Robinson is not included.
Jonathan and Christopher Nolan
Atticus Finch, tortured by the memory of his dead wife, abandons the daughter he loves and the son he tolerates when he discovers a portal in the knothole of a local tree that allows him to literally climb into another person’s skin and walk around in it. But when the knothole’s power starts to bend time and space, Atticus is faced with an impossible choice: sacrifice his kids to save America, or sacrifice America to save the world? The narrative gets even more confusing from there.
Judd Apatow
Immature stoner Boo Radley may not have a job, and he may not have any friends, and he may still live with his parents, but that doesn’t mean he’s a loser. He’s actually a really cool dude who just needs to get laid!
Joss Whedon
When Maycomb County is invaded by the alien race of Uneducated Farmers, only sarcastic single dad Atticus and his just-coming-into-her-sexuality daughter Scout (seventeen, sweet but with an edge) are the only ones who can save the day — but they’ll need their ragtag team of misfit friends to help. There’s Tom, a noble brute with a crippled hand; Boo, a silent shaman with the innocence of a child; and Cal, a beloved mother figure whose death in the climactic final battle serves as a sobering reminder of the fallibility of humankind. This film will provide the source material to spawn three sequel franchises and a web series that might seem unconnected to the main plot but makes perfect sense if you watch all twelve post-credits scenes.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird/ Now listen while I drop the hottest rhymes you ever fucking heard
About racism, justice and freedom, and then some/ Life lessons, growing up and showing up in Maycomb
I’m just one man tryna do the right thing/ So America can hear the mockingbird sing
Hurry, hurry — / Gentlemen of the jury —
Look at my man’s hand and listen to his testimony/ No need to hold a ceremony/ Y’all can just hand me the Tony!
