Is ‘The Age of Adaline’ Based On A Book? The Story Is Definitely Unique

After watching the first promos for The Age of Adaline, I — as I am sure many others did as well — was left with a few important questions: One, how does Blake Lively look so perfect all the time? Is it witchcraft? Two, how does Blake Lively get her hair so shiny? Again, is it witchcraft? Third (and probably most importantly), is The Age of Adaline based on a book?

Considering the fact that it's a movie being released in 2015 — It feels like it should be. After all, a good percentage of films hitting the big screen these days originated in novel form. Additionally, the plot of the epic romance fantasy seems rather book-ish: The story follows Adaline Bowman (played by Blake Lively), a woman who, after a traumatic accident, finds herself unable to age — and so, she's remained 29 years old for over 80 years. Her secret has meant she's lived a largely solitary life, but when she meets Ellis Jones (played by Game of Thrones star Michiel Huisman), all of that starts to change. Seriously, that premise absolutely screams New York Times bestseller list to me.

But, surprisingly, this isn't the case: The Age of Adaline is not a book, but is instead a completely original concept. The screenplay was written by J. Mills Goodloe (The Best of Me) and Salvador Paskowitz. Surprising, yes — but hey, it doesn't make me want to see the movie any less when it's released on April 24,

That being said, just because The Age of Adaline doesn't have roots in the book world doesn't mean there aren't similar films that do! If you're looking for a fantasy vibe that was first brought to life in novel form, you're in luck — there are more than a few:

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

In Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel, a man with a genetic disorder which causes him to time travel involuntarily falls in love with a woman whom he invariably meets at different stages of her life. (She, at some point, becomes his wife.) The book was heartbreaking, romantic and absolutely brilliant, so it wasn't a surprise when the big screen version starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana was released in 2009.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

OK, so Benjamin Button isn't frozen in time like Adaline — instead, he's moving backwards through it. Born as an old man who gradually becomes younger and younger until he simply ceases to be born at all, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button won hearts — and plenty of awards — when it came out in 2008. However, the plot was actually loosely based on a 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Talk about being ahead of your time!

Stardust (2007)

This one is a bit more fantasy-based than most, but Neil Gaiman's 1999 novel Stardust translated perfectly to the big screen. Stars like Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro and Ricky Gervais brought the magical kingdom of Stormhold — and all the dramas within it — to life. The throne is up for grabs, romance is in the air, an evil old woman who needs a star to say young is on the loose... sounds like a recipe for amazingness, right? (It is.)

What Dreams May Come (1998)

The 1998 film adaptation of What Dreams May Come, based on a 1978 novel of the same name by Richard Matheson, saw Robin Williams and Annabella Sciorra as a husband and wife who face an immense loss after their children are tragically killed in a car accident — before an unimaginable tragedy strikes again. It's romantic and sad and basically everything a good movie should be.

Images: Lionsgate (1), Paramount Pictures (3), Universal Studios (1)