Let’s be clear, the books we are going to talk about are not the next Harry Potter, content wise, because frankly Harry Potter is one of a kind. Harry Potter launched a literature based mega movie franchise and Hollywood has been on the hunt for the next adaptation ever since. The question is what makes a mega franchise?
The Wrap posted an article earlier this week stating six books they think will be the next mega franchise. While the six books they chose are definitely strong stories, there are several books they overlooked that have bigger potential when all the factors are considered. The Wraps choices: Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Homelander by Andrew Klavan, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Maximum Ride by James Patterson, and The Seventh Son by Joseph Delany.
So what does it take to be a mega-franchise like Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games? Firstly a strong fan base that sticks with the books and the author. One of the key factors in the success of the aforementioned movies was that it reached a broad audience that crossed generations. Teens, their parents and their grandparents were all in the theater to see these films, more than once. A mega franchise can only be successful as its fan base and its reach to a mainstream audience. Also, these fan bases crossover, Harry Potter fans became fans of both Twilight and The Hunger Games. Readers are smart, they want books and movies that appeal to them on an intellectual as well as a personal level.
Another indicator of a mega franchise is how well the books sell. There are the obvious markers such as the New York Times bestselling list and how many countries it has been released in. Clearly being a New York Times bestselling author is a great achievement but the list is difficult to make. Plus no one really knows how books make the list, just that it is not a calculation based on total sales but some unknown equation. The other thing to consider is that books on the New York Times list are categorized so it is difficult to gauge how well it is doing overall. The better litmus test of a books success is where it lands on the USA Today List. Prior to Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games releasing as a movie, the whole series was on the top of the USA Today Bestselling list, which ranks books in general and not by category.
One last thing that helps a series reach mega franchise status, the author. The more accessible an author is to fans the bigger the fan base. The authors who are active on twitter or their website tend to keep people interested in their projects. An author can’t just show up online during their book release week and then never use social media again. A smart author feeds the masses little tidbits of upcoming works or outtakes. Any small teaser is enough to keep people talking about the book.
So what do we think the next mega franchise will be? Our list consists of two series and one stand alone. Obviously the stand alone won’t be a ‘franchise’; however, it is possible to work with the authors other material creating more movies based on the authors work.
Here are our choices for next mega franchise (in no particular order):
1. Divergent Series by Veronica Roth
Both Insurgent and Divergent are sitting atop the New York Times Bestselling list and are both on the USA Today. They appeal to a broad audience, filling the gap in the dystopian world left by The Hunger Games. It also helps that Summit, the studio behind the Twilight films, optioned the book and has now joined forces with Lionsgate, the studio behind The Hunger Games. The series has been sold to over 29 countries, so the fan base is not only large, but diverse.
2. The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassie Clare
Cassie Clare was recently named the “New Queen of Fantasy.” She has earned the title by working hard at her craft and creating a strong series of books in the shadow hunting world. She not only has the Mortal instrument series but a prequel, The Infernal Devices, as well as a planned companion series in The Dark Artifices. Cassie seems to have no interest in slowing down, which keeps her books on the bestselling lists and her fans constantly begging for more. Cassie Clare has built a fan base for years and is active on twitter, tumblr, and her website. She fuels the fires of fandom in a way that keeps people talking about her books even if one is’t expected for another 8 months.
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
This book could definitely be a mega-hit. Yes, the story is about cancer, which can be a sensitive topic, but it isn’t a Nicholas Sparks book. It is funny, poignant, and shows true love in all of its forms, without the extra coating of cheesy sentimentality. Green has a major presence on Twitter and Youtube. Plus he has one of the most active fan bases I have ever seen. The nerdfighters are just about loving Green’s books; they are about being themselves and helping those around them. They are active, they are loud, and they will support Green in whatever he does. The Fault in Our Stars is a stand out book and would make an amazing movie. The Fault in Our Stars has been translated into over 10 languages, won numerous awards and is still on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Each of these books has something to offer a large, diverse audience. They tend to appeal to both males and females. Their fan base is multi-cultural and spread throughout the world. Plus each author is involved, in varying degrees, with their fans through some form of multi-media. All of this puts these book adaptations on par with the mega franchises already created.