Schindler’s List, Little Women, Bridget Jones’s Diary, To Kill a Mockingbird – some of the best films ever made were originally conceived as books. The same goes for television, too, from Normal People to Shōgun to Big Little Lies. With such a wealth of marvellous storytellers exercising their talent via the written word, who can blame TV producers for wanting to capitalise on their ideas?
For readers, there’s a special sense of satisfaction you get from having read a novel before it hits the screen. Or – in the disappointing cases – a feeling of superiority when you can dismiss a film as “not as good as the book”.
There are many book-to-screen adaptations on the way either this year or in the near future. If you want to be ahead of the curve, here are the novels to read now before they’re turned into films or TV series:
Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
Mickey Barnes is an “expendable”, meaning every time he dies, his body is “regenerated” and he comes back to life with (almost) the same memories. Just as well – he’s part of an expedition to colonise the dangerous planet of Niflheim, made entirely of ice. Next month, he’ll be played by Robert Pattison in Parasite director Bong Joon-ho’s take on Ashton’s entertaining sci-fi novel, renamed Mickey17 (seems as though the film version of Mickey has been through substantially more lives…).
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein has been adapted many times, the most famous being James Whale’s 1931 horror film. This year, Frankenstein’s creation will feature once again in The Bride!, which, while not a straight adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic, does take inspiration from it (and Whale’s follow-up, Bride of Frankenstein). Maggie Gyllenhaal is in the director’s chair, while Christian Bale is set to star as Frankenstein’s monster and Jessie Buckley as his bride. If it’s a more straightforward adaptation you’re looking for, director Guillermo del Toro is also doing his own retelling for Netflix, with Oscar Isaac as the eponymous scientist and Jacob Elordi as his monster.
Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Housemaid by Freida McFaddenThe Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Surely you’ve seen this distinct cover – a mysterious eye poking through a keyhole – on public transport or in the hands of a fellow cafe-dweller; it feels like everyone has read this twisty psychological thriller. Told by Millie, a young woman recently out of prison who gets a job as a maid for well-off couple Nina (who is difficult and strict) and Andrew (browbeaten and undeniably handsome). The story quickly descends into a whirlwind of secrets and lies as Millie attempts to keep her true identity under wraps. The upcoming movie adaptation is in the capable hands of Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, A Simple Favour) with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried already cast as Millie and Nina.
Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz
Director Lynn Ramsay hasn’t made a film since 2017’s You Were Never Really Here, so Harwicz’s novel – released the same year and longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize – must have spoken to her to make her want to adapt it. While the original story takes place in the French countryside, Ramsay’s version will transport it to Montana, where a woman (played by Jennifer Lawrence) is slipping into psychosis as a result of post-partum depression. As her husband (Robert Pattison) struggles to cope, their marriage breaks down and the struggling mother resorts to violent coping mechanisms.
The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave
Doctor Who and House of the Dragon actor Matt Smith leads Sky Atlantics’s series adaptation of Nick Cave’s 2009 novel. He plays the titular Bunny Munro, a door-to-door beauty product salesman who, following his wife’s suicide, goes on a booze-fuelled sex tour of Brighton. Complicating his carnal odyssey is the presence of his young, shy son, Bunny Jr, who spends his days sitting in his dad’s car. The book is divisive among readers who argue over whether it’s a sharp satire of toxic masculinity or an absurd exercise in misogyny – but since when has the intense Australian rocker been to everybody’s taste?
‘Die, My Love’ by Ariana Harwicz, ‘The Death of Bunny Munro’ by Nick Cave, ‘Long Bright River’ by Liz MooreLong Bright River by Liz Moore
Barack Obama once chose Liz Moore’s detective thriller as one of his books of the year – perhaps surprisingly, given the bleak picture of America it portrays. It’s set in Kensington, a neighbourhood in Philadelphia in the grip of an opioid crisis and whose sex workers are being stalked by a ruthless serial killer. On his (or her) tail is copper Michaela “Mickey” Fitzpatrick – who will be played by Amanda Seyfried in the upcoming TV series adaptation – intent on proving to her superiors that the spate of recent deaths are more than just tragic overdose cases. At once a dark depiction of the reality of poverty and a hopeful redemption tale, Long Bright River has the potential to be the next Mare of Easttown.
Yellowface by R F Kuang
R F Kuang’s page-turner was such a hit on release in 2023 that it’s no surprise that studios were desperate to option it for a TV series. While no cast has been announced yet, Yellowjackets and Jennifer’s Body director Karyn Kusama is already on board to tell the satirical story of identity politics and diversity in the publishing industry. When June Hayward, a young, white struggling novelist, is the only person to see her famous writer frenemy Athena Liu die, she takes it upon herself to edit and re-write Liu’s final unpublished manuscript about the Chinese experience of the First World War. Changing her name to the racially ambiguous Juniper Song, Hayward finally finds success – until someone starts to question her authenticity…
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Andy Serkis is not the first to turn George Orwell’s farm revolution novella into a film – John Stephenson’s 1999 version used real animals and models, while the classic 1954 retelling used classic animation. As you’d imagine from the Planet of the Apes star, Serkis is using motion capture technology to bring the rebellious animals to life, with Kieran Culkin and Kathleen Turner slated to star. The book itself is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, telling the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their tyrannical farmer only to find themselves exploited by Napoleon the pig, a not-so-subtle reference to the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
‘Yellowface’ by Rebecca F Kuang, ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell, ‘American Psycho’ by Bret Easton EllisAmerican Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Easton Ellis’s blood-soaked horror novel isn’t for the faint-hearted, as it’s told from the point of view of narcissistic banker and serial killer Patrick Bateman. The rampant of consumerism and Wall Street boom of 80s New York proves a fertile playground for the murderous Bateman, who was iconically played by Christian Bale in Mary Harron’s 2000 adaptation. The rumour mill went into overdrive over who will attempt to match his performance when it was announced that Challengers and Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino would be attempting a remake. Eventually, Elvis star Austin Butler emerged as the contender.
We Were Liars by E Lockhart
Creator of The Vampire Diaries Julie Plec is in charge of turning E Lockhart’s YA psychological thriller into a TV series for Prime Video. The novel introduces us to the wealthy, privileged Sinclair family, who make a pilgrimage to their own private island in Massachusetts every summer. When Cadence, the eldest granddaughter of the family, survives a terrible accident during her 15th visit to the island, she loses parts of her memory, and when she returns to reunite with her cousins two years later, they refuse to fill in the blanks. What really happened that fateful summer is the perfect, unexpected twist.
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
The next season of Shonda Rhimes’s regency romance Bridgerton will focus on Benedict (played by Luke Thompson), whose love story is told in Quinn’s third book in the series of novels. He meets Sophie Beckett at one of Lady Bridgerton’s masquerade balls, though isn’t aware of her lowly status. While Sophie was born into high society, her stepmother has forced her into servitude – she was only at the party because she had snuck her way in. Their Cinderella story plays out with Quinn’s signature allure – forget Anthony and Colin, Benedict is sure to be your new favourite Bridgerton brother after reading this.
‘We Were Liars’ by E Lockhart, ‘An Offer From a Gentleman’ by Julia Quinn, ‘The Last Anniversary’ by Liane MoriartyThe Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty has had loads of her books turned into TV series, including Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers and, of course, the excellent Big Little Lies. Now it’s the turn of 2005’s The Last Anniversary, a typically acerbic story of family complications and womanhood which will soon come to the BBC. Set in Australia, it follows Sophie Honeywell as she moves to Scribbly Gum Island, where she has unexpectedly inherited a house from her ex-boyfriend’s aunt. There she meets three generations of women, each with their own stories to tell, the most intriguing of which is the mystery of the young couple who suddenly went missing on the island years earlier.
The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag
Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 graphic novel is accompanied by stunning images of teenage orphan Michelle and her robot friend Skip as they travel across a futuristic America to locate her brother. Michelle will be played by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown in the Russo brothers’ Netflix adaptation later this year, with Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan and Stanley Tucci also joining the cast. A trailer suggests that the film’s plot will divert from the source material significantly – all the more reason to treasure Stålenhag’s artwork in its original form.
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