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14 New & Upcoming Book-to-Screen Adaptations
If it seems like a lot of your favorite books are turning into movies and TV series lately, you’re right. Extremely right. In fact, it’s been a banner year for Hollywood book adaptations. Depending on how you do the math, more than 75 books—both fiction and nonfiction—will have made their way to TV and/or cinemas by the end of 2023.
On the big screen, we’ve seen blockbuster films like Oppenheimer, based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus, along with lots of smaller genre specimens like the horror pic Knock at the Cabin, based on Paul Tremblay’s 2018 novel. On TV and streaming services, it’s been a seemingly endless procession of books turned into full series, limited series, and one-off feature films. Think Daisy Jones and the Six, The Wheel of Time, or American Born Chinese.
The really crazy part? We’re just now getting into the busy season. We’ve gathered below 14 of the most high-profile adaptations premiering in the fall prestige season. We’ve included the relevant drop dates and links wherever possible, but keep in mind that the Hollywood strikes are playing havoc with the calendar. Check your current listings!
On the big screen, we’ve seen blockbuster films like Oppenheimer, based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus, along with lots of smaller genre specimens like the horror pic Knock at the Cabin, based on Paul Tremblay’s 2018 novel. On TV and streaming services, it’s been a seemingly endless procession of books turned into full series, limited series, and one-off feature films. Think Daisy Jones and the Six, The Wheel of Time, or American Born Chinese.
The really crazy part? We’re just now getting into the busy season. We’ve gathered below 14 of the most high-profile adaptations premiering in the fall prestige season. We’ve included the relevant drop dates and links wherever possible, but keep in mind that the Hollywood strikes are playing havoc with the calendar. Check your current listings!
Zakiya Dalila Harris’ 2021 mystery-thriller follows twentysomething publishing assistant Nella Rogers, who is tired of being the only Black employee in the office. So she’s delighted when Harlem native Hazel joins the team as another woman of color. But things get quickly and severely weird when a series of unsettling events turns Nella’s world upside down. The new Hulu series adaptation premiered in September, and the creative team cites some varied inspirations, from Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel Passing to Jordan Peele’s instant-classic 2017 horror film Get Out.
Victor LaValle is one of the most innovative writers working in speculative fiction these days. (For immediate proof, check out his 2016 quick-read novella The Ballad of Black Tom.) LaValle’s 2017 novel The Changeling follows an antiquarian book dealer who travels through eldritch realms to save his family. LaValle’s book is a slow-motion collision of dark fantasy, gritty realism, and parental anxiety. The Apple TV+ adaptation, starring LaKeith Stanfield, premiered its first three episodes on September 8, with eight total planned for release through the fall season.
Check the reader reviews and you’ll find that people have a deep and genuine affection for this 2021 coming-of-age YA novel. The story introduces two Mexican American teens living in 1980s Texas and explores themes of family, queerness, and ethnic identity. The big-screen adaptation, in theaters now, features up-and-coming actors Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales as Aristotle and Dante, respectively. Also on board: Eva Langoria, as Dante’s artistic mom, and Lin-Manuel Miranda behind the scenes as producer.
This one is a lot of fun: In theaters September 15, the new supernatural thriller A Haunting in Venice is the third installment in actor-director Kenneth Branagh’s film franchise featuring natty Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The previous films, Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, were adapted from the respective Agatha Christie novels. But the new one is a mashup blending elements from several Christie stories, including the 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party and the 1926 short story The Last Séance.
A Goodreads Choice Award nominee for both Best Historical Fiction and Best Debut, author Charmaine Wilkerson’s 2022 novel concerns two siblings, a strange bequeathment, and a famous Caribbean recipe with a loooooong history. Black Cake shuttles back and forth in time, as the siblings learn about their family’s astonishing past and how stories are passed down through generations. (Sometimes via cake recipe!) The TV series adaptation, from Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films, is set to debut on Hulu November 1.
Investigative journalist David Grann made all the best-of lists in 2017 with this book about a terrible and largely forgotten chapter in American history. In the 1920s, dozens and perhaps hundreds of Osage Native Americans were murdered in a vicious dispute over oil rights in Oklahoma. Probably the most high-profile adaptation of the year, director Martin Scorsese’s long-awaited film will debut in U.S. theaters on October 20, with an Apple TV+ release later in the year. The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Blackfeet Nation actress Lily Gladstone.
Another incoming AppleTV+ adaptation—premiering October 13—Lessons in Chemistry is based on author Bonnie Garmus’ warmly received debut novel from last year. The setup: Brilliant chemist Elizabeth Zott finds herself hosting America’s most popular cooking show, where she challenges 1960s notions of what a woman can do in her professional life. A genuine hit with both readers and critics, the book earned the attention of Hollywood A-lister Brie Larson (Captain Marvel!), who is fittingly both lead performer and executive producer. You really can have it all!
Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Anthony Doerr’s World War II novel follows the parallel stories of a blind French girl and a reluctant German soldier whose lives come together in occupied France circa 1940. Netflix’s four-part limited series is set to drop on November 2, with all episodes available upon debut. This is prestige-picture territory for Netflix, and the production has attracted some top-shelf talent including Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie, and newcomer Aria Mia Loberti, a legally blind actress who won the role after a global casting process.
Both spin-off and prequel, this 2020 dystopian sci-fi novel from Suzanne Collins marks her return to the colossal pop culture phenomenon that is the Hunger Games series. Set 64 years before the events of the first book, the novel provides an origin story for ultimate boss villain Coriolanus Snow. Is he the good guy in the new book? Is he the bad guy? The answer is yes. The movie adaptation, starring Tom Blyth as young man Snow, hits theaters November 17. Rachel Zegler plays Snow’s protégée, Lucy Gray Baird.
Author Rumaan Alam’s popular 2020 novel fits squarely with a long and noble tradition in the psychological thriller genre: the Vacation Gone Wrong. Two families end up at the same luxurious Long Island rental property when word comes that a mysterious blackout has struck New York City. Then things get really weird. The star-studded film adaptation—featuring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la Herrold, and Kevin Bacon—is slated to premiere December 8 on Netflix, with a limited theatrical release likely as well.
The first full novel from author Ottessa Moshfegh, Eileen was a surprise sensation in 2015, winning the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for debut fiction. Genre designations are terminally blurred with this one, and that’s part of the book’s strange, dark appeal. The story—one fateful week in the life of two women in 1960s Boston—is a kind of literary thriller, inspired by Shirley Jackson, Vladimir Nabokov, and the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Anne Hathaway and New Zealand actress Thomasin McKenzie headline the movie adaptation, coming to theaters December 1.
Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize–winning 1982 novel is considered one of the great works of American fiction. Set in rural Georgia in the early 1900s, the book follows a group of African American women over the course of several decades. Director Steven Spielberg famously adapted the novel in 1985, but this is a story that will be retold as long as we have storytellers. The new musical adaptation, based on the Broadway version of the book, hits theaters on December 25. Among the ensemble cast: Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Louis Gossett Jr., Ciara, and H.E.R.
Canadian author Iain Reid specializes in the shadowy areas between cerebral horror, haunting sci-fi, and psychological thriller. In his sophomore novel, Foe, a near-future marriage is tested when the husband is replaced by his biomechanical double. While technically science fiction, the story is much more interested in the people involved than in the technology. The film adaptation, starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, will debut in theaters on October 6, with a later streaming debut on Amazon Prime.
On a significantly lighter note, this Regency-era historical romance from author Julia Quinn tells the effervescent love story of two characters with impeccable romance novel names: Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. Just as the book is part of Quinn’s popular Bridgertons series, the adaptation of Romancing is part of Netflix’s ongoing Bridgertons streaming series. In fact, the book will inform the entirety of Season 3, which is supposedly coming this year but has no set release date yet.
Which new adaptations are you looking forward to? Let's talk in the comments!
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Does anyone know when the movie “White Bird” will be released?
Law wrote: "🐺🐴Missy🦄💕 wrote: "Eva wrote: "Dont forget Percy Jackson!"OMG, I LOVE PERCY JACKSON!"
I enjoyed the first book, but should I continue?"
Yes, you should definitely continue. The books just keep getting better and better.
Hey guys, what do you think about the twilight saga, the mortal instruments series, the erin hunter books, and the chris colfer books.
Beyond excited. I have seen some trailers for these and they have captured my attention. I also see I need to get cracking on my TBR list.
ALI wrote: "I would love to see The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made in a movie. That would be great! The book was great from beginning to end."I'm pretty sure Netflix already announced the adaptation
dany wrote: "Wow, I thought the trailer for Lessons in Chemistry looked great, and seeing this now made me realized I skipped over the book many times. The cover makes it look boring and contemporary."Right? The other cover with the tv and color-blocking looks so much more interesting! I'd actually pick that one up. This one makes it look like every other bland contemporary romance in existence, so I've never even read the summary to see what it was about until now.
poor things!!!! with emma stone and willem dafoe. based on alasdair gray's genre-mixing book. comes out on dec. 8!!!
I'm really looking forward to the movie adaptation of the Thursday Murder Club and Dark Matter. I believe both are in the works already!
I know Project Hail Mary will be a movie too (it's starring Ryan Gosling)not sure when, though
Where’s the fantasy? Need more Six of Crows!
ALI wrote: "I would love to see The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made in a movie. That would be great! The book was great from beginning to end."I believe it has been optioned for some sort of adaptation.
🐺🐴Missy🦄💕 wrote: "Hey guys, what do you think about the twilight saga, the mortal instruments series, the erin hunter books, and the chris colfer books."Honestly, I couldn't get into any of the other Erin Hunter series besides Warriors, but Twilight fuels my entire being. Both the books and movies where a huge part of my life-
Can't wait for the Dial A For Auntie's series adaptation!
ALI wrote: "I would love to see The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made in a movie. That would be great! The book was great from beginning to end."I think it is coming to Netflix...I'm also very excited for this one!
⛧~~☆~~ Birdy ~~☆~~⛧ wrote: "🐺🐴Missy🦄💕 wrote: "Hey guys, what do you think about the twilight saga, the mortal instruments series, the erin hunter books, and the chris colfer books."Honestly, I couldn't get into any of the o..."
I read most of the Warriors books and some of the Survivors books. But, I wasn’t able to read all the Twilight books, but I watched almost all the movies.
ALI wrote: "I would love to see The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made in a movie. That would be great! The book was great from beginning to end."
Diana wrote: "ALI wrote: "I would love to see The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made in a movie. That would be great! The book was great from beginning to end.""All of her books would make great movies ..Carrie Soto Is Back would be phenomenal as a movie
Looking forward to seeing` Romancing Mr Bridgerton' I admit that I have not read any of the Bridgerton books but I have watched all the series on Netflix. I liked the characters, the costumes and the music.
I do remember reading All the Light We Cannot See and thinking it had a staccato cinematic feel, the rapid impetus of a movie script coming gorgeously alive in my head; I am cautiously optimistic.
Goodreads, Aristotle and Dante DEFINITELY didn't come out in 2021 lolEdit: the movie also isn't "in theaters now"............
dany wrote: "Wow, I thought the trailer for Lessons in Chemistry looked great, and seeing this now made me realized I skipped over the book many times. The cover makes it look boring and contemporary."The author herself has said she likes the UK cover more! It is definitely a lot darker than the cover would lead you to believe!
ALI wrote: "I would love to see The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made in a movie. That would be great! The book was great from beginning to end."100% agree! It was a fabulous book and I could completely see it as a screen adaption!
Law wrote: "I've read TBOSAS and can't wait for the movie! The adaptation for Lessons in Chemistry looks interesting."FR!!
im so excited for the Hunger Games fandom to revive again
Enjoyed reading in Lessons in Chemistry and currently enjoying watching the series. I will say that the series, while sticking with the overall main plot points, does deviate from the book in several ways. Both enjoyable, but different.
OMG, I'm looking forward for The ballad of songbirds and snakes.
Evelyn wrote: "The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes looks sooooooo good!!! That movie is seriously going to be legendary!"I agree with you. I'm so excited!
Eva wrote: "Dont forget Percy Jackson!"Yes, I was just about to say that! The show looks really good!
Cindy wrote: "dany wrote: "Wow, I thought the trailer for Lessons in Chemistry looked great, and seeing this now made me realized I skipped over the book many times. The cover makes it look boring and contempora..."We all do.
I saw the Haunting in Venice and it wasn’t very good. I’m sure the book is better; it was just the choices made by the directors about how to sequence the story that wasn’t well done. Hercule Poirot didn’t spend enough time investigating the deaths. He came to the conclusion of the killer way too easily. Anyway, I don’t really recommend the movie, although the cinematography was very good (think: whimsical gothic).
Ibjust want to say the movie of Ballad of songbirds and snake's is what is right in the world. It's excellent!!!
ALI wrote: "I would love to see The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made in a movie. That would be great! The book was great from beginning to end."I agree, this would be a great one to see on the screen!
OMG, I LOVE PERCY JACKSON!"
I enjoyed the first book, but should I continue?