[FDW]

Originally Posted by Airman8

I was getting all psyched up for an Intrigues movie, but that totally knocked some sense into me. That book is long enough to take up 4 hours worth of movie time if it was done as completely as Disappearance.

It could also possibly be around 10 episodes, which would take up the bulk of a new Haruhi season should they make one. You're right that Intrigues is a slower and less cinematic story, but I think this could work, especially if the Melancholy of Asahina Mikuru came at the beginning to set the stage:

Spoiler for book 7, etc.:

Tsuruya plays a pretty big role, and she's a fan favourite. There's mystery as well as comedy. It introduces some new characters and brings back old ones, and it has the car chase scene. Mikuru gets some much-needed character development, and the book will leave people wondering about what will happen next. Throw Charmed at First Sight, Where did the Cat Go and SMS into the mix and we have a very full season which is easily as fun as the first.

I would assume 8, one for Melancholy of Asahina Mikuru, one to finish up disappearance, and 6 for the Intrigues arc proper, with the remaining 6 episodes to be split up amongst all remaining material through the 8th book in the series. (With the 9th book being the start of a 4th season.)