Every time a book gets optioned for film or television, we see big, splashy headlines announcing the news, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will ever make it to our screens. So, we’ve done some digging into the adaptations currently in the works and broken them down by where they’re at in the process, from those that have finished filming to those currently in production and projects still in the very early stages of development. Consider this a working list, which we’ll continue to update as new adaptations are announced, projects progress and release dates are confirmed.

Filmed and coming soon

The waiting is almost over for this lot. Filming has wrapped and these adaptations are now in post-production, hitting the festival circuit or already have release dates on the calendar.

• Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito — This one has already made it all the way from page to screen. Maika Monroe stars as murderous Victorian governess Winifred Notty alongside Thomasin McKenzie and Jason Isaacs, with Zachary Wigon directing. Following its Cannes premiere, the film is heading to cinemas.
• The Wicker Husband by Ursula Wills-Jones — Now titled Wicker, this gloriously strange adaptation stars Olivia Colman as a woman who commissions herself a husband made from wicker, with Alexander Skarsgård playing said husband. Peter Dinklage and Elizabeth Debicki also star, and after premiering at Sundance, it is heading to cinemas January 7, 2027.
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah — After years of delays, Kristin Hannah’s beloved WWII novel is finally happening. Sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning will play sisters Vianne and Isabelle, with Michael Morris directing and Mark Rylance, Shira Haas and Edmund Donovan also among the cast. Production is underway, with the film currently expected in 2027.

Cameras are rolling

These are the adaptations that are actually happening. Casts are in place, cameras are rolling (or have only just stopped), and we’re getting much closer to seeing these books on screen.

• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore — Liz Moore’s bestselling mystery is being adapted into a Netflix series, with Maya Hawke and Kerry Condon among the cast. Filming is now underway in upstate New York.
• This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune — Netflix is bringing another Carley Fortune romance to the screen. The series is now in production, with Sophie Nélisse, Roby Attal and Francesca Reale starring.
• The Husbands by Holly Gramazio — Gramazio’s brilliantly strange novel is becoming an Apple TV+ series starring Juno Temple. A24 is producing, with Joe Alwyn, Richard Gadd and Joel Kinnaman among the rather impressive collection of husbands. Production is now underway.
• You Are Here by David Nicholls — David Nicholls’ latest love story is becoming an eight-part series for the BBC and Starz, with Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen playing Marnie and Michael and Normal People director Lenny Abrahamson directing. Nicholls himself has written the adaptation, with production getting underway in the UK.
• Beach Read by Emily Henry — January and Gus are officially getting their movie. Phoebe Dynevor will play January opposite Patrick Schwarzenegger as Gus in 20th Century Studios’ adaptation, with Yulin Kuang writing and directing. Filming is now underway.
• The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley — Bradley’s time-travelling debut is becoming a six-part BBC series, with A24 producing and Normal People co-writer Alice Birch adapting. Filming is now underway in the UK.

And these are in the works…

Then there’s the very large pile of books currently somewhere in the adaptation pipeline. Some have been optioned, others have studios, writers, directors or major stars attached, but they haven’t started filming just yet. As always with book adaptations, some will move quickly and others may sit here for years, but these are the ones worth keeping an eye on.

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans — Virginia Evans’ bestselling debut is headed to the big screen, with Jane Fonda set to star as its letter-writing protagonist, Sybil Van Antwerp.
• The Wedding People by Alison Espach — Alison Espach’s bestselling novel is getting the big-screen treatment, with TriStar Pictures behind the adaptation.
• Fruit Fly by Josh Silver — Josh Silver’s buzzy new novel has already been snapped up for the screen, with A24 developing the adaptation.
• The Woman in Me by Britney Spears — Britney Spears’ bestselling memoir is becoming a feature film at Universal, with Wicked director Jon M. Chu set to direct and Marc Platt producing.
• Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth — Sally Hepworth’s twisty family thriller is being developed for television by Made Up Stories.
• Things Will Calm Down Soon by Zoë Foster Blake — Zoë Foster Blake’s novel is also getting the television treatment, with Made Up Stories behind the adaptation.
• Lioness by Emily Perkins — New Zealand author Emily Perkins’ Lioness could be making its way to television, with the rights optioned by Made Up Stories.
• Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty — Another Liane Moriarty novel is headed for television, with Made Up Stories, Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films and Fifth Season teaming up for the adaptation.
• I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy — McCurdy’s huge bestselling memoir is being adapted for Apple TV+, with Jennifer Aniston attached to star.
• Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand — Netflix is returning to the world of Elin Hilderbrand for season two of The Perfect Couple, this time using Swan Song as its source material and turning the show into an anthology series.
• Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino — Hulu has snapped up Kashino’s novel for a television adaptation, with Greta Lee attached to star and executive produce.
• Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano — The wildly popular Finlay Donovan books are making their way to Peacock, with Tina Fey and Never Have I Ever co-creator Lang Fisher behind the adaptation.
• Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story by Julie K. Brown — Investigative journalist Julie K. Brown’s book is being adapted for television, with Laura Dern attached to star.
• London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe — A24 UK is developing an adaptation of Keefe’s nonfiction book about the mysterious death of Zac Brettler.
• Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee — Klee’s debut memoir is already heading towards the screen, with UCP developing a television adaptation.
• So Gay for You by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey — The memoir from The L Word stars Moennig and Hailey is being developed as a series, with The End of the F**ing World* creator Charlie Covell adapting it.
• Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy — Kennedy’s romance is in development with A24 and Pacesetter Productions, with Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen attached.
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin — This long-awaited adaptation is finally moving, with Daisy Edgar-Jones set to star alongside Sean Kaufman and Sky Yang and CODA filmmaker Siân Heder directing.
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — Matt Haig’s enormous bestseller is finally getting its film adaptation, with Florence Pugh attached to star as Nora Seed and produce and Garth Davis set to direct.
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid — After years of waiting for movement on this one, Netflix’s adaptation is moving forward with Anna Kendrick directing. Casting for Evelyn, Celia and the rest of the gang is still under wraps.
• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid — And it’s not the only Taylor Jenkins Reid book headed to the screen. Her NASA-set novel is being developed as a theatrical film, with Captain Marvel filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck attached to write and direct.
• The Guest List by Lucy Foley — Foley’s locked-room wedding thriller is being developed as a limited series at Hulu, with Liz Tigelaar executive producing alongside Foley.
• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall — Clare Leslie Hall’s bestselling love story is headed to the big screen, with Sony’s 3000 Pictures and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine behind the adaptation.
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath — Another attempt is being made to bring Plath’s classic novel to the screen, with Sarah Polley set to write and direct and Billie Eilish attached to make her feature acting debut as Esther Greenwood.
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke — Burke’s buzzy debut was snapped up for the screen before it had even reached shelves. Amazon MGM Studios is developing the feature film, with Anne Hathaway attached to star and produce.
• Katabasis by R.F. Kuang — Kuang’s journey into the underworld is being developed as a series by Amazon MGM Studios for Prime Video, with Angela Kang attached as writer and showrunner and Kuang among the executive producers.
• Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe — There’s officially more Margo on the way. The Apple TV series has been renewed for a second season, with Elle Fanning returning and Eva Anderson joining David E. Kelley as co-showrunner.
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros — Basgiath War College is still heading to Prime Video, with Amazon MGM Studios developing Yarros’ wildly popular Empyrean series for television. We’re still waiting on the all-important casting news.
• American Fantasy by Emma Straub — Straub’s 2026 novel is already headed for the screen, with Elisabeth Moss and Lindsey McManus producing a feature adaptation and Straub herself joining as an executive producer.
• James by Percival Everett — The Pulitzer Prize-winning reimagining of Huckleberry Finn is being turned into a feature film for Universal, with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin producing and Taika Waititi directing.
• Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors — Coco Mellors’ debut was optioned by Warner Bros. Television for a series adaptation, with Mellors herself attached to adapt the novel and Maggie Kiley attached to direct and executive produce. This one was first announced back in 2022, though, and there hasn’t been a huge amount of public movement since.