Ink to Film
by Luke Elliott & James Bailey
Are you the sort of person who likes to read the book before you see the movie? So are Luke and James—a writer and filmmaker respectively who bring their backgrounds studying stories to the table for in-depth discussions of the adaptations of the past and present. If you love delving into the craft behind the art you love, then Ink to Film is for you.
Episodes
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Hellraiser (1987 film) | Making the Macabre Beautiful
Clive Barker had the rare chance to adapt his own work (THE HELLBOUND HEART) into film, but does he manage to convert his brand of sublime horror across mediums? In episode 398, join writer Luke Elliott & filmmaker James Bailey as they consider pain as only a matter of perspective, revel in 80s...
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We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018 film) | A Subtle Genre Shift
Adapting Shirley Jackson's masterpiece is a tall task, but does Stacie Passon's film pull it off? In episode 397, join writer Luke Elliott & filmmaker James Bailey as they tackle the voiceover problem, explore a small genre shift with big effects, react to alternate casting that almost happened,...
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From the Vault: Goosebumps (2015 film)
Director Rob Letterman was faced with a daunting task: adapting the vast Goosebumps series into a single movie, rather than focusing on any one specific story. Join Luke & James in this former Patreon-exclusive episode as they revisit their childhood love for RL Stine, get meta with Jack Black,...
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We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962 novel) | Shirley Jackson's Masterpiece
Shirley Jackson's most famous work is THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, but is it actually her best or does her final published novel before her death surpass it? In episode 396 join writer Luke Elliott & filmmaker James Bailey as they revel in some truly great sentences, wonder how reliable Merricat…
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Stalker (1979 Film) Ft. Laura Cranehill
Andrei Tarkovsky's work is beloved by film enthusiasts, but how does his masterpiece compare to the novel ROADSIDE PICNIC by Boris & Arkady Strugatsky? In episode 395, author Laura Cranehill (WIFE SHAPED BODIES) joins Luke Elliott & James Bailey to learn about the film that killed its creator,...
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Roadside Picnic (1972 Novel) Ft. Laura Cranehill
Before Andrei Tarkovsky's "Stalker," Arkady & Boris Strugatsky's novel shocked Soviet censors and created a stir among the intellectuals of their era. In episode 394, author Laura Cranehill (WIFE SHAPED BODIES) joins Luke Elliott & James Bailey to discuss what happens when aliens don't even…
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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011 Film) | The Power of Tone
David Fincher's adaptation of Stieg Larsson's legendary novel is often overlooked even by his fans, but does it deserve to be held in higher regard? In episode 393, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they consider different versions of Lisbeth Salander, reflect on Millennial alt-fashion…
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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2005 Novel) | The Tragedy Behind the Bestseller
Stieg Larsson's debut novel was a smash hit, but he never lived to see it. In episode 392, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they learn the horrific event that led to the eventual creation of Lisbeth Salander, compare the author's career in journalism to Mikael Blomkvist's similar career…
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O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000 Film) | An Odyssey of Another Sort
The Coen Brothers' American take on "The Odyssey" left an indelible mark on film and music alike, but how does it hold up as an adaptation? In episode 391, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as the geek out about Roger Deakins, debate what makes for an effective politician, unpack the role of race…
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From the Vault: Alice in Wonderland (2010 Film)
When Tim Burton adapted Lewis Carroll's famous novel he turned it into an action-adventure film featuring a star-studded cast, but was it effective? Join Luke & James in this former Patreon-exclusive episode as they fall down a very different rabbit hole, explore a world of wonder and cgi, try to...
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The Odyssey (2026 Film) | An Epic For Our Time
Christopher Nolan's sword and sandals epic is dominating the box office and generating an immense amount of buzz, hot takes, backlash, and praise. In episode 390, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they compare the film to Homer's epic poem, debate the value of 70mm IMAX, consider a...
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The Odyssey (8th Century BCE Epic Poem) | It Isn't What You Think
Perhaps Literature's most enduring narrative has captured audiences for three thousand years, but after Emily Wilson's translation inspired Christopher Nolan's latest, it is poised to command public discourse around the world in a way it never has before. In episode 389, join Luke Elliott & James...
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The Green Mile (1999 Film) | Evil Has Many Faces
Frank Darabont's second adaptation of Stephen King's work returns to the prison yard, but this time things get supernatural. In episode 388, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they consider the different kinds of villains the story presents and how they interact with one another, look at the…
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The Green Mile (1996 Novel) | A Risky Experiment
Stephen King released one of his most famous novels in an unusual manner and it shaped the narrative in fascinating ways. In episode 387, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they discuss benevolent prejudice, react to yet another fantastic King villain, learn to love a magic mouse, and get ready…
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Empathy for the Past | Train Dreams (2025 Film)
Clint Bently's adaptation of Denis Johnson's novella finds connection and clarity in a story that resisted it, but is that an improvement? In episode 386 join writer Luke Elliott and filmmaker James Bailey as they find sympathy for the generations that came before, explore the symbolism of the…
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The Power of Living Small | Train Dreams (2011 Novella)
Before the adaptation, Denis Johnson's novella won the "O' Henry" and was a finalist for the Pulitzer for what critic Anthony Doerr hailed as an "American epic writ small." In episode 385, join writer Luke Elliott and filmmaker James Bailey as they explore Johnson's Hemingway-esque prose style,...
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Who Deserves to Be In the "Adaptation Hall of Fame?" | 2026 Class
Which of these worthy adaptations deserves to be considered among the best ever put to film? In episode 384, join writer Luke Elliott and filmmaker James Bailey as they make the case and then argue over which three are the most deserving to make it in as Ink to Film's third class. The nominees…
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Perfect Blue (1997 Film) | Finding Meaning in Uncertainty
Does the source novel for "Perfect Blue" help a first-time viewer to parse the meaning behind Satoshi Kon's ending? In episode 383, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they consider what essential elements the novel provided, explore the use of reflections, debate the significance of the fish…
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Perfect Blue (1991 Novel) | The Book that Inspired an Anime Legend
Before Satoshi Kon's beloved film, Yoshikazu Takeuchi's light novel Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis had a different story to tell, one with more traditional horror trappings, but with themes about identity and obsession that carried through. In episode 382, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey...
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Lord of the Flies (2026 Series) | How to Adapt a Classic
Jack Thorne's version of this literary classic demonstrates how bold, smart choices can breathe life into something that might have otherwise been stale. In episode 381, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they discuss all four episodes, appreciate strong performances by the young leads, debate...
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Lord of the Flies (1954 Novel) | What Lurks in Our Hearts?
William Golding's iconic tale of a group of boys stranded on an island without adults has long been a part of school curriculums in the English-speaking world, but what is it actually about? In episode 380, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they ask whether humans are inherently evil, reflect…
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From the Vault: Wonka (2023 Film)
Paul King's prequel to "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971) explores the candy man's origin. Is a light and fluffy musical version of this world, along with a solid performance by Timothée Chalamet, enough to recapture the magic of the 1970s classic? Don't miss out on this golden ticket…
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T. Kingfisher on Retellings, Adaptations, and "What Moves the Dead" | Creative Conversations
Author T. Kingfisher joins LIVE at Norwescon 2026 to discuss her novel WHAT MOVES THE DEAD, how to write retellings, and how she feels about adaptations. In episode 379, Luke Elliott & James host their second live recording, this time in front of a live room full of Ursula Vernon fans while…
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What Moves the Dead (2022 Novel) | Conformity Takes Everything
T. Kingfisher's retelling of "The Fall of the House of Usher" was a commercial and critical success, but was it an adaptation? In episode 378, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they explore the "sporror" subgenre, appreciate some truly unsettling hares, and explore how this version of the…
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Project Hail Mary (2026 Film) | The SF Adaptation We Needed
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller delivered an adaptation to remember of Andy Weir's hit novel, but how does it stack up to the original? In episode 377, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they react to an IMAX event of a film, weigh what science was important to keep and what could…
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Project Hail Mary (2021 Novel) | Andy Weir Is Our Favorite Science Teacher
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...
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Romeo + Juliet (1996 Film) | Someone Had to Try It
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...
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Romeo & Juliet (1597 Play) | Foolish Teens or True Love?
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...
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | Distinctly Its Own
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...
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The Hedge Knight (1998 Novella)| "At the Height of His Powers"
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...
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Frankenstein (2025 Film) | "Stitching Parts to Reanimate a Classic" ft. Rachael K. Jones
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...
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Hamnet (2025 Film) | An Empathetic Masterpiece
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…
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Hamnet (2020 Novel) | The Resurrection of the Author
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...
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Last Looks 2025
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…
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The Awesome Power of Handcrafted Art | Akira (1988 Film)
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,...
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The Story That Blew Everything Open | Akira (1982 Manga, Vol. 2 & 3)
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)...
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The Dawn of Cyberpunk | Akira (1982 Manga, Vol. 1)
Nobody seems to know for certain who created the first cyberpunk story, but Katsuhiro Otomo has as strong a claim as anyone. In episode 365, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they start their journey into Neo-Tokyo for possibly the most legendary manga of all time, learn the history of manga...
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Just Expected More | The Running Man (2025 Film)
Edgar Wright's adaptation of a Stephen King book and 80s Arnold Action flick seemed like a perfect match, so why didn't this movie rise to the level of his very best? In episode 364, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they unpack what went right and what went wrong in the jump from page to…
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That Time King Wrote Class Warfare | The Running Man (1982 Novel)
From his doublewide trailer in the 1970s, Stephen King was able to authentically tackle class struggle in this early novel originally published under the pen name "Richard Bachman." In episode 363, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they try to understand Ben Richards, get dystopian and…
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Chatting Up Past Guests at WorldCon 2025 | From the Vault
Join Luke & James on the convention floor as they catch up with former guests Remy Nakamura, Curtis Chen, Kate Ristau, Erik Grove, Jessie Kwak, Fonda Lee, Daryl Gregory, Patrick Swenson, and Rachael K. Jones! Each author shares their experiences at the convention and what they've been up to in…
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From the Vault: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017 Film)
Jake Kasden reimagines Jumanji for a modern audience while making clever connections to the original that manages to keep this latest entry in line with the classic Robin Williams-led version. He delivers star-power with The Rock, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart, who all give memorable...
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From the Vault: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994 Film)
In the 90s, Director Kenneth Branagh made a wild heavy metal adaptation of the seminal SciFi novel starring himself, Robert De Niro, and Helena Bonham Carter. Join Luke & James in this former Patreon-exclusive Halloween episode as they debate the value of such an over-the-top take on a literary...
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From the Vault: Room 237 (2012 Film)
Director Rodney Ascher presents some of the wild interpretations of The Shining (1980) that persist to this day, each more fantastical than the next. Some theories seem grounded in reality, but others take massive leaps and arrive at outlandish ideas, none more ridiculous than the "moon landing...
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Tragedy Becomes Art | The Long Walk (2025 Film)
Director Francis Lawrence takes time off from directing the Hunger Games franchise to tackle one of the original battle royale stories with THE LONG WALK by Richard Bachman. In episode 362, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they discuss changing this Bachman story back into a King story, the...
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Stephen King On a Rainy Day | The Long Walk (1979 Novel)
Enigmatic author Richard Bachman drew comparisons to another famous author from the jump, but it would be years before the truth about him was finally exposed. In episode 361, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they strap on their best shoes and take a long walk into the past as they explore the...
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The Blueprint for Helldivers | Starship Troopers (1997 Film)
Paul Verhoeven's adaptation of Heinlein's classic novel divided critics at the time as many found the satire to be indistinguishable from endorsement, but its antifascist subtext plays a bit different in 2025. In episode 360, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they compare the film to…
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Starship Troopers (1959 Novel) | NOT a Satire
Often called the "Dean of Science Fiction Writers," Robert A. Heinlein is considered one of the "Big Three" of English-language classic science fiction, but why isn't he read more today? In episode 359, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they explore Heinlein's complex legacy of shifting…
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Clawing Back Your Identity | Nightbitch (2024 Film) ft. Shayna Hodge
Guest Shayna Hodge (they/them) joins the show once more to round out our coverage on the Marielle Heller adaptation of Rachel Yoder's NIGHTBITCH. In episode 358, join Luke, James, and Shayna as they breakdown Amy Adam's stark portrayal, unpack the changes made to the husband's character, make a...
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Fem Rage is Inevitable | Nightbitch (2021 Novel) ft. Shayna Hodge
Special guest Shayna Hodge (they/them) joins the show to discuss Rachel Yoder's splashy debut novel. In episode 357, Luke Elliott & James Bailey ask about Shayna's immensely popular book club (run on behalf of the "Parallel Worlds" book store), what drew them to this novel, who writes body horror...
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Martha Wells Reflects on "Murderbot" S:01 | Creative Conversations (WORLDCON 2025 LIVE)
Author Martha Wells joins LIVE at Seattle Worldcon 2025 to discuss "Murderbot" season 1, adapted by Paul and Chris Weitz for Apple TV+. In episode 356, Luke Elliott & James host their first live-recording in front of a packed room of Martha Wells fans, adding to their "Creative Conversations"...
About this show
Are you the sort of person who likes to read the book before you see the movie? So are Luke and James—a writer and filmmaker respectively who bring their backgrounds studying stories to the table for in-depth discussions of the adaptations of the past and present. If you love delving into the craft behind the art you love, then Ink to Film is for you.
Hosted by
Luke Elliott & James Bailey