Class is back in session, and we're sitting in the front row! In episode 376, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they contemplate star-eating bacteria, speculative astrobiology, first-contact communication, locked-room mysteries, the differences between Ryland Grace and Mark Watney as protagonists, a Michael Crichton comparison, and what it would take for the world to come together to face a common problem. Join them again next week when they analyze the film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling!

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• Intro/outro music: Last Dawn by Ross Bugden

Luke Elliott

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James Bailey

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• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Baz Luhrmann made a bold choice with his adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic tale of tragic love by having his adaptation take place in a modern setting, but with characters who still speak the lines as originally written. In episode 375, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they explore this bold experiment, react to Tybalt and Mercutio performances to remember, debate Leonardo DiCaprio's early acting choices, consider Claire Danes comments about Leo, learn some wild behind-the-scenes details, unpack the water as death metaphor, and debate the few notable changes made to source material. They finish out by casting their votes on which they ultimately prefer: the play or the movie!

• Join our Discord channel https://discord.gg/yQpgu9jYB2
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• Intro/outro music: Parallel by Ross Bugden

Luke Elliott

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James Bailey

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• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

The bard is back on the pod with that new heat, this time coming straight outta Verona. In episode 374, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they talk about the poem that Shakespeare was adapting, debate the existence of "love at first sight," get real about soulmates, unlock some hints from the meter of the text, appreciate the blend of humor and drama, and finally ask whether the tragedy of their love is ultimately worth it.

• Join our Discord channel https://discord.gg/yQpgu9jYB2
• Pickup Romeo and Juliet or any of the books they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
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• Ink to Film's Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Parallel by Ross Bugden

Luke Elliott

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• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

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• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Game of Thrones is back with an adaptation that's a breath of fresh air for the franchise. In episode 373, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they chat about the youth movement behind Ira Parker, debate the value of the diarrhea scene, explore the things that made ASOIAF work in the first place (it isn't dragons), and finally cast their vote on which is ultimately better, "The Hedge Knight" by George RR Martin or the adaptation!

• Join our Discord channel https://discord.gg/yQpgu9jYB2
• Hollywood Reporter "Heavy is the Crown"
• Pickup A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms or any of the books they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
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• Intro/outro music: Ice and Fire by Ross Bugden

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
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• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

In the first installment of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" George RR Martin introduces the world to Ser Dunk and his squire Egg in a story that just made the jump to television. In episode 372, join writer Luke Elliott and filmmaker James Bailey as they revisit Westeros for the first time in years, discuss their relationship status with the A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones franchise, debate the nature of authorial "ownership," and make some predictions for what they're hoping to see in the HBO series under showrunner Ira Parker. Join them next week as they review/react to the show!

• Join our Discord channel https://discord.gg/yQpgu9jYB2
• Pickup A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms or any of the books they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
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• Intro/outro music: Ice and Fire by Ross Bugden

Luke Elliott

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• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

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• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Guillermo Del Toro's long-awaited adaptation of Mary Shelley's seminal SF/Horror novel has divided fans with passionate takes for and against, so what should we all make of it? In episode 371, author Rachael K. Jones joins Luke & James to play a morbid game of FMK, compare how children learn language to what is portrayed on screen, compare multiple adaptations to this one, and finally cast their votes on which version is best: the book or the movie!

Rachael K. Jones

• Website https://www.rachaelkjones.com/
• Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/rachaelkjones.bsky.social
• "The Sound of Children Screaming"
• "Five Views of the Planet Tartarus"

Ink to Film

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• Intro/outro music: Demon Echoes by Marc Van der Meulen

Luke Elliott

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• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

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• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Is Chloé Zhao's adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's historical novel on the life of Agnes Hathoway, William Shakespeare, and their child Hamnet an example of one of the best kinds of adaptations possible in film? In episode 370, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they marvel at the performance Jessie Buckley delivers, debate the ethics of mining personal tragedy for artistic expression, weigh the inclusion of a beloved if often-used piece of music, embrace emotional storytelling at it's finest, and join in a moment of shared catharsis. They finish by casting their votes on which is ultimately better, the book or the movie!

• Join our Discord channel! https://discord.gg/yQpgu9jYB2
• Pickup Hamnet or any of the novels they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
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• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/Outro Music "No Winners" by Ross Bugden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qk-vZ1qicI

References

• Maggie O'Farrell didn't want to write 'Hamnet's' script.
• Vanity Fair Notes on a Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfTiQzQ-DoM

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Before the award's darling film hit theaters in 2025, Maggie O'Farrell's novel made waves of its own with its brilliant prose, rich imagination, and earnest attention to the human heart. Her choice to focus on William Shakespeare's son, wife Agnes, and the possible implications his personal life could have had on his legendary work brought a fresh perspective to one of the most talked about figures in English Literature. In episode 369, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they kick off season 10 of the podcast, talk about "The Death of the Author" as a critical approach and what could be gained by bringing them back to life, the real story behind Anne Hathaway, and discuss what they are hoping for next week when they watch the film directed by Chloé Zhao!

• Join our Discord channel! https://discord.gg/yQpgu9jYB2
• Pickup Hamnet or any of the novels they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Support Ink to Film on Patreon for bonus content, merch, and the ability to vote on upcoming projects! https://www.patreon.com/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/Outro Music "No Winners" by Ross Bugden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qk-vZ1qicI

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

To cap off their 9th season, in episode 368 James and Luke list their best (and worst) reads, then name the best (and worst) adaptations of the year. It was an exciting year highlighted by their first ever live recording featuring the incredible Martha Wells who joined the show to talk Murderbot at WorldCon in Seattle. The podcast didn't stop at just sci-fi, though, making a deep dive into Dracula, exploring a legendary anime, dissecting a trio of Stephen King movies, laughing with a Shakespeare retelling for the ages, and lamenting a fantasy series cancelled before its time. Topics also include: The Wheel of Time, Nosferatu, Mickey 17, Conclave, The Ring, The Iron Giant, and so much more. Thank you to everyone who made this year a great one for Ink to Film!

Categories

Intro - 00:00:27

Podcast Stats - 00:02:21

Biggest Surprise - 00:13:42

Worst Read - 00:25:30

Best Read - 00:35:38

Worst Watch - 00:50:53

Best Watch (A.K.A. Best Adaptation) - 01:02:47

Looking Ahead - 01:20:53

• Pickup any of the novels they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Support Ink to Film on Patreon for bonus content, merch, and the ability to vote on upcoming projects! www.patreon.com/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/pub...

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Katsuhiro Otomo did the impossible when he adapted his own unfinished manga into an anime film that changed everything. In episode 367, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they unpack the making of this landmark film, try to understand a mind-blowing ending, compare different versions of Tetsuo, and finally cast their vote on which one is ultimately better: the manga series or the anime!

• Pickup Akira or any of the novels they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Support Ink to Film on Patreon for bonus content, merch, and the ability to vote on upcoming projects! https://www.patreon.com/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/Outro Music "Rebels" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-wKcIkElIc&t=522s

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Katsuhiro Otomo's series is a landmark work in the history of Japanese manga and animation that shaped the industry as we know it today. In episode 366, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they continue their journey through Neo Tokyo by reacting to volumes 2 and 3, debate just how evil (or not) Tetsuo actually is, weigh the pros/cons of color, learn about "gutter loss," and further explore the legacy of this legendary story. Join them again next week when they race headlong into the film!

Pickup Akira or any of the novels they've covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm

Support Ink to Film on Patreon for bonus content, merch, and the ability to vote on upcoming projects! https://www.patreon.com/inktofilm

• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/Outro Music "Rebels" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-wKcIkElIc&t=522s

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/