23 Books To Read Before They're Made Into Movies And TV Shows

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Miniseries: Daisy Jones & The Six (2023)

This bestselling book follows a 1970s rock band through their rise and fall, and it's now headed to Amazon Prime as a 10-part documentary-style miniseries starring Riley Keough and Sam Claflin as rock stars clashing amidst their band's meteoric rise.

02 of 23

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

Movie: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)

Judy Blume’s classic coming of age novel is getting a film adaptation this year. Starring Rachel McAdams, Benny Safdie, Kathy Bates, and Abby Ryder Fortson, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. will be the nostalgic, heartwarming, and funny story you need this year.

03 of 23

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Movie: Wicked: Part One (2024)

There have been rumblings of a film adaptation of the lauded musical for years, but Wicked: Part One, which is based on the Stephen Schwartz musical of the same name (which, in turn, is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West) is finally on the horizon–with Wicked: Part Two hopefully not far behind. It’s directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and Michelle Yeoh.

04 of 23

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Movie: The Nightingale (2023)

The 2015 novel The Nightingale is the basis for the upcoming historical drama of the same name directed by Mélanie Laurent and starring sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning. It's set in France during the German occupation of WWII and is inspired by the story of Adrienne de Jongh, a member of the Belgian resistance.

05 of 23

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Series: Lessons in Chemistry (2023)

Brie Larsen is starring in and executive producing Lessons in Chemistry, a series adaptation of Bonnie Garmus’ bestselling novel, which is set in the 1950s and sees a scientist and single mother spurring a revolution via a televised cooking show. It’s slated to premiere on Apple TV+ this year.

06 of 23

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Series: Washington Black (TBA)

Set in the 19th century, this upcoming, nine-episode Hulu miniseries is based on the celebrated novel by Esi Edugyan. The story follows the adventures of George Washington "Wash" Black, played by Ernest Kingsley Junior, who flees a sugar plantation in Barbados and travels the world, finding love, connection, and danger along the way.

07 of 23

Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie

Movie: A Haunting in Venice (2023)

Kenneth Branagh is once again tackling an Agatha Christie adaptation. This time, Christie’s mystery novel Hallowe’en Party will reach the screen as A Haunting in Venice, which is scheduled for release in fall 2023 and stars Branagh, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, and Michelle Yeoh.

08 of 23

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Movie: Wonka (2023)

While the book has had a few notable film adaptations, this new movie goes even farther back to provide an origin story for none other than Willy Wonka himself. Timothée Chalamet stars in this prequel, which is billed as a “musical fantasy” and is based on characters created by Roald Dahl.

09 of 23

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Movie: Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

This highly anticipated film is based on David Grann’s bestselling 2017 nonfiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. It’s being directed by Martin Scorcese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemmons, and Brendan Fraser. Set in northeastern Oklahoma in the 1920s, the film follows a young J. Edgar Hoover as he investigates a series of mysterious deaths of members of the Osage Nation.

10 of 23

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Series: All the Light We Cannot See (TBA)

Another adaptation that has been in the works for a while, All the Light We Cannot See is an upcoming series based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Anthony Doerr. It’s headed to Netflix in the future and stars Aria Mia Loberti, Mark Ruffalo, and Hugh Laurie.

11 of 23

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin

Movie: Oppenheimer (2023)

Christopher Nolan’s next big film is Oppenheimer, an epic that’s slated to be released summer 2023. It’s based on the 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the Manhattan Project. Cillian Murphy stars as the titular character.

12 of 23

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Movie: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (TBA)

Gabrielle Zevin’s novel of friendship, video games, collaboration, and digital storytelling has garnered more than a few fans since its release in 2022. Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to the novel in 2021, and an adaptation of the widely acclaimed story is hopefully on the horizon.

13 of 23

The Power by Naomi Alderman

Series: The Power (2023)

Naomi Alderman's dystopian science fiction novel, which was published in 2016, explores ideas of power, responsibility, and potential. It's headed to Amazon Prime in March 2023 with ten episodes starring Auli'I Cravalho and John Leguizamo.

14 of 23

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Movie: The Color Purple (2023)

Alice Walker’s unforgettable novel The Color Purple is getting a new film adaptation this year. Directed by Blitz Bazawule and starring Fantasia, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R., and Ciara, this new imagining of the classic novel is not to be missed.

15 of 23

Dune by Frank Herbert

Movie: Dune, Part Two (2023)

Part of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed sci-fi novel Dune made it to the screen in an adaptation by Denis Villeneuve. The director continues the story with Dune, Part Two, which tells more of the story of Paul Atreides and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson.

16 of 23

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez — amazon.com

Series: One Hundred Years of Solitude (TBA)

An adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s novel has been in development for some time, but rumor has it that the project, which tells the epic story of seven generations of the Buendía Family and spans history, politics, and legend, is moving forward at Netflix.

17 of 23

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Movie: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (TBA)

You can find the drama and glitz of old Hollywood throughout Taylor Jenkins Reid's book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, making it perfect for a film adaptation. Few details have been shared about the project thus far, but Netflix is at the helm, so the odds are good that the adaptation will make it to your queue soon.

18 of 23

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Exit West: A Novel by Mohsin Hamid — amazon.com

Movie: Exit West (TBA)

We don’t yet know all the details of the upcoming film adaptation of Mohsin Hamid’s beautiful 2017 novel Exit West, but so far, it looks like the film is being directed by Yann Demange, who directed ‘71 (2014) and produced Lovecraft Country (2020). It stars Riz Ahmed as one member of a refugee couple fleeing a war-torn place through mysterious portals in their city.

19 of 23

The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen

Movie: The Little Mermaid (2023)

A live-action version of The Little Mermaid is coming to screens this year. Based on the earlier film, which itself is based on the folktale by Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid sees Halle Bailey taking on the role of Ariel with Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina rounding out the cast. Rob Marshall directs.

20 of 23

Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

Series: Separation Anxiety (TBA)

Julianne Nicholson is attached to star in the upcoming television series adaptation of Laura Zigman's 2020 book Separation Anxiety, a story about grief, loneliness, and hope.

21 of 23

Shriver by Chris Belden

Movie: A Little White Lie (2023)

This satiric novel is set at a writers' conference where a man is mistaken for a reclusive writer with whom he shares a name. The film adaptation is set to star Michael Shannon as the titular Shriver.

22 of 23

Text for You by Sofie Cramer

Movie: It's All Coming Back to Me (2023)

A woman sends texts to her late fiancé's cell phone number but finds more than solace in this upcoming remake of a German-language adaptation of Sofie Cramer's novel Text for You. The upcoming film stars Sam Heughan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

23 of 23

Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

Movie: Peter and Wendy (2023)

Peter Pan is getting another live-action adaptation. The upcoming film is called Peter and Wendy, and it follows the adventures of Peter Pan and Wendy Darling along with Tinker Bell (played by Yara Shahidi) and Captain Hook (played by Jude Law). It's slated to be appear on Disney+ in April 2023.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!