Read up and get ready for the most exciting upcoming TV adaptations.
Do you want to put your teeth into a great new book or TV series? Beat two birds with one stone by checking out some of the most exciting book-to-TV adaptations to come in the near future.
A number of promising TV series that are in the making are also based on great novels. Best of all, they cover a wide range of genres, so there’s something for everyone! Whether you’re a fan of fantasy or prefer historical fiction, your next amazing read and look might be somewhere on this list.
Here, in order of release date, are 10 upcoming book-to-TV adaptations you can keep an eye on.
1. “Pachinko”
“Pachinko,” based on the novel by Min Jin Lee, is a far-reaching television adaptation spanning decades and three languages. Spoken in Korean, Japanese and English, Pachinko follows her main character Sunja – played at various stages of her life by Jeon Yu-na, Kim Min-ha and Youn Yuh-jung – while she and her Korean family immigrate to Japan. The show moves away from the novel’s linear storytelling, instead of weaving together story threads that are years apart but that speak to each other with similar historical resonance.
How to see: “Pachinko ” streams March 25 on Apple TV +.
2. “The man who fell to the ground”
“The Man Who Fell to Earth” is partly a sequel, partly a reinterpretation of the science fiction novel from 1963 by Walter Tevis, but its premise remains the same. An alien (Chiwetel Ejiofor) lands on Earth and seeks help for his people. While trying to understand humanity, complications arise. Ejiofor is joined by an excellent cast including Naomie Harris, Kate Mulgrew, Jimmi Simpson and Bill Nighy. In a fascinating twist, Nighy Thomas plays Jerome Newton, the main character in Tevis’ book and the role that David Bowie played in the 1976 film adaptation.
How to see: “The man who fell to the ground ” premieres April 24 at 22.00 ET.
3. “Time Traveler’s Wife”
You may already be familiar with Audrey Niffenegger’s novel, “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” or with the 2009 film starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. Now get ready to watch it again, this time as a TV series. Rose Leslie and Theo James take on the roles of Claire and Henry, a married couple whose lives are constantly interrupted by Henry’s uncontrollable outbursts of time travel. Claire and Henry do their best to enjoy every moment together because there is no telling when Henry will be drawn into the past – or when he will return.
How to see: “Time Traveler’s Wife ” streamed on HBO Max in May.
4. “Conversations with friends”
If you liked the Hulus 2020 hit Normal People, chances are you’ll love the upcoming adaptation of Sally Rooenys “Conversations with friends“. “Normal People” director Lenny Abrahamson and co-author Alice Birch return for this 12-episode limited series that explores the complicated connections between its four main roles. Frances (Alison Oliver) and her best friend and ex-boyfriend Bobbi (Sasha Lane) broke up with the couple Melissa (Jemima Church) and Nick (Joe Alwyn). As they get to know each other, their relationship changes from platonic to romantic, leading to clutter, self-discovery and – judging by the trailer – several steamy scenes.
How to see: “Conversations with friends ” streamed on Hulu in May.
5. “Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power”
JRR Tolkien’s fantasy epic hits the small screen this year, just not in the way you might expect. Amazon Prime’s series will not adapt Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy – after all, Peter Jackson did it pretty much perfectly 20 years ago. Instead, “The Rings of Power” draws inspiration from works such as “The Silmarillion” and “Unfinished Tales,” in which Tolkien outlines the history of Middle-earth. This allows us to explore the past lives of characters like Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo). “Rings of power ” also adds new characters to Tolkien’s universe, such as Dwarf Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete), so you can expect some major – but potentially rewarding – changes from Tolkien’s original work.
This is how you look: “Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power ” streamed on Prime Video on September 2nd.
6. “Interview with the Vampire”
Do you need a TV show with a vampire bite? Get ready for “Interview with a Vampire”, based on Anne Rice’s iconic debut novel (which has already been made into a movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise). Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) is an old vampire who tells the story of his life to a reporter, including his choice to become a vampire and his connection to his mentor Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid). Not much has been revealed about the series, but considering that Rice wrote several novels about Louis and Lestat, there is a lot of source material to draw from.
How to see: “Interview with the Vampire ” hits AMC this fall.
7. “The Sandman”
Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed series of graphic novels come to life in “The Sandman,” which sees Dream (Tom Sturridge), the king of dreams, captured by occultists. However, Dream is not alone: He is one of the seven Endless, which also includes the embodiments of forces such as Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and Desire (Mason Alexander Park). Gaiman is heavily involved in this adaptation, which strives to be as faithful as possible while updating some elements of the graphic novels – beginning in 1989 – to make more sense today.
How to see: “The Sandman ” streamed on Netflix in 2022.
8. “Dragon’s House”
Long before the events of “Game of Thrones”, another great conflict over the Iron Throne shook Westeros. Based on George RR Martin’s “Fire & Blood”, “House of the Dragon” takes us back to 300 years before people like Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen were even born when the dragon-riding Targaryens turned against each other in a bloody civil war. Expect political planning at the “Thrones” level, carnage, and unpleasant family relationships. After all, it’s Targaryen’s we’re talking about. One area where “House of the Dragon” may have a leg up against its predecessor is its conclusion: Martin has already written this story in full, so the audience can not be burned by an unsatisfactory conclusion.
How to see: “Dragon’s House ” streamed on HBO in 2022.
9. “Daisy Jones & The Six”
Experience the rise and fall of a legendary 1970s band in “Daisy Jones & The Six”, based on Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel of the same name. Presented as a documentary, the miniseries charts the career of rock star Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) as she joins rock band The Six. As their music picks up speed, interpersonal drama threatens to tear the band apart. Keough is joined by Sam Claflin, Camila Morrone, Suki Waterhouse, Nabiya Be and more. Filming began in 2021, so “Daisy Jones” may not appear on stage (or on our screens) until the end of 2022 – it’s give you plenty of time to read it in advance!
How to see: No release date has been set, but “Daisy Jones & The Six ” will be streamed on Prime Video.
10. “Forces”
What would happen if all the women in the world developed the strange ability to electrocute others? That’s the premise of Naomi Alderman’s novel “The Power,” which Alderman himself is adapting for television. The titular power emerges in teenage girls, who quickly teach older women it. Soon, power structures around the world will change as gender roles are reversed. “The Power’s” cast includes Leslie Mann, Auli’i Cravalho, John Leguizamo, Alice Eve and Toheeb Jimoh.
How to see: No release date has been set, but “The power” will be streamed on Prime Video.
Sign up: Stay on top of the latest groundbreaking movie and TV news! Sign up for our email newsletters here.