What's the cross between the anticipation leading up to Halloween and your English class? No, it's not a horrifying report card catastrophe...it's October's Books on Screen! Get well acquainted with Shakespeare by going to see a modern spin on Romeo & Juliet or become immersed in the world of a Charles Dicken's classic with Great Expectations. If you want something a little more eerie, Stephen King's Carrie is up on the big screen, or you could settle down on the coach to tune into "The Vampire Diaries" or NBC's new series, "Dracula."

In Theaters:

Great Expectations
Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Flemyng, David Walliams, Holliday Grainger, Sally Hawkins
Director: Mike Newell
Distributor: Main Street Films
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 11th
Based on: GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Charles Dickens

Mike Newell, BAFTA award winning director of Four Weddings and A Funeral and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, directs a high calibre ensemble cast including BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham, BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes as the convict Magwitch, Robbie Coltrane as Jaggers and newcomer Jeremy Irvine, fresh from his lead role in Spielberg's War Horse, as Pip.  They are joined by Holliday Grainger as Estella, Ewen Bremner, Jason Flemyng, Sally Hawkins, Tamzin Outhwaite, David Walliams, Jessie Cave, Olly Alexander, Ben Lloyd-Hughes and William Ellis as Compeyson. This adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic and finest novel is produced by award winning partners Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley and written by acclaimed screenwriter and novelist David Nicholls (One Day). Young orphan Pip is given a chance to rise from his humble beginnings thanks to a mysterious benefactor. Moving through London's class ridden world as a gentleman, Pip uses his new found position to pursue the beautiful Estella; a spoilt heiress he's loved since childhood. Yet the shocking truth behind his great fortune will have devastating consequences for everything he holds dear.

Romeo & Juliet
Cast:  Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth, Damian Lewis, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ed Westwick, Pau Giamatti
Director: Carlo Carlei
Distributor: Relativity Media
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 11th
Based on: ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare's timeless tale of love and tragedy gets a 21^st century makeover in this update starring Douglas Booth as Romeo and Hailee Steinfeld as Juliet. Directed by Carlo Carlei (The Flight of the Innocent) and adapted by Julian Fellowes, Romeo and Juliet finds the innocent young lovers caught up in a bitter feud between their warring families, the Montagues and Capulets. Determined not to let the sins of their families' turbulent pasts stand in the path of true love, Romeo and Juliet run away to wed in secrecy. Alas, happiness was not to come, for in time the flames of their youthful passion will consume them both. Paul Giamatti, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Stellan Skarsgard co-star.

Carrie
Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort, Julianne Moore
Director: Kimberly Peirce
Distributor: Sony Pictures
MPAA Rating: N/A
Release Date: October 18th
Based On: CARRIE by Stephen King

A reimaging of a classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloe Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. Based on the bestselling novel by Stephen King, Carrie is directed by Kimberly Peirce with a screen-play by Roberto Aguirrre-Sacasa.

On TV:

"The Vampire Diaries," Season Five
Cast: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder
Network: The CW
Air Dates: Premieres on Thursday, October 3rd at 8:00 PM/ET
Based On: The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith

Mystic falls becomes the target town for vampires with the return of Stefan amd Damon Salvatore. Stefan, the controlled brother who's focused on his humanity, enrolls at high school attempting a normal life, whereas Damon, his dashing, gorgeous, irresistible and dangerous brother makes Stefan's life a misery while trying to steal his girlfriend, Elena, along the way. With the confusing emotions, deceiving acts and hidden talents, comes a deep history from 1864 that Damon is determined to overcome by rescuing the Salvatore brothers' old love, Katherine, with the help of Elena's witch friend.

"Dracula"
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jessica De Gouw, Katie McGrath
Network: NBC
Air Dates: Premieres on Friday, October 25th at 10 PM/ET
Based On: DRACULA  by Bram Stoker

Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors") stars in this provocative new drama as one of the world's most iconic characters. It's the late 19^th century, and the mysterious Dracula has arrived in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. He's especially interested in the new technology of electricity, which promises to brighten the night --- useful for someone who avoids the sun. But he has another reason for his travels: he hopes to take revenge on those who cursed him with immortality centuries earlier. Everything seems to be going according to plan...until he becomes infatuated with a woman who appears to be a reincarnation of his dead wife. From the producers of the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning hit "Downton Abbey" comes "Dracula," a twisted, sophisticated and sexy take on Bram Stoker's classic novel, proving that some stories never die.

On DVD:

Much Ado About Nothing
Cast: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Fran Kranz
Director: Joss Whedon
Distributor: Lionsgate
MPAA Rating: PG-13
DVD Release Date: October 8th
Based On: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare

Writer/director Joss Whedon (Serenity, Marvel's The Avengers) gives William Shakespeare's beloved battle-of-the-sexes comedy a contemporary makeover in this feature adaptation starring Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof. In the wake of an eventful trip abroad, Claudio (Fran Kranz) and Benedick (Denisof) arrive safely back in their hometown of Messina, where Claudio wastes no time declaring his love for Hero (Jillian Morgese). Alas, when clever Benedick learns that his friend has poured his heart out to the daughter of powerful governor Leonato (Clark Gregg), he chides his old friend relentlessly over the syrupy assertion while engaging Leonato's outspoken niece Beatrice (Acker) in a series of spirited debates. Meanwhile, somewhere amidst all of the pointed insults and playful barbs, something that strangely resembles true love seems to blossom between Benedick and Beatrice. Nathan Fillion, Reed Diamond and Sean Maher co-star.