What's New and Coming Soon in Book-to-Screen

There are a lot of exciting book adaptations coming to the screen right now. We're excited to watch, but first we want to read, because, as we all know, the book is (almost) always better. Here are thirteen of the latest, greatest book-to-screen adaptations. Order your copy of the source material so you can read before you watch.

Fellow Travelers by Thomas Mallon

Streaming now on Showtime

Set in 1950s Washington, D.C., this novel is part love story, part political thriller. Tim is a recent college graduate joining the crusade against Communism when he falls for a charismatic politician. As McCarthy mounts a desperate bid for power, the lovers find it ever more dangerous to navigate their double lives. The series adaptation stars Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, and Allison Williams.

Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

Priscilla is in theaters now

Decades after his death, millions of fans continue to worship Elvis the legend. But very few knew him as Elvis the man. Presley's memoir gives us a new perspective on the legacy of Elvis. Directed by Sofia Coppola, the film draws from Priscilla's account of their complicated relationship from their first meeting to the unbreakable bond that has remained long after his tragic death.

The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton and Marion Mainwaring

Streaming now on Apple TV+

Wharton died before she could finish this spellbinding story about five wealthy American girls whose money is deemed too new for New York society. At the suggestion of their clever governess, the girls sail to London to marry cash-poor nobility. Luckily the book was completed by Mainwaring and has now been adapted into a diverting series.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

In theaters now

The prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy is set 64 years earlier. It tells the story of a young Coriolanus Snow struggling to rehabilitate the tarnished legacy of his family by mentoring the winning tribute—a girl from District 12. The new film features a stacked cast including Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis.

Real Tigers by Mick Herron

Season three of Slow Horses is streaming now on Apple TV+

When one of their own is kidnapped, the washed-up MI5 operatives of Slough House—the Slow Horses, as they're known—outwit rogue agents at the very highest levels of British Intelligence, and even to Downing Street itself. We're looking forward to the adaptation of the third book in the Slough House series about Jackson Lamb and his team of misfits.

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

In theaters now

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, this creepy, mesmerizing, and sublimely funny novel offers shades of Shirley Jackson and early Vladimir Nabokov. It is the story of two young women who meet while working at a juvenile detention facility in 1960s New England. Their friendship sets off a dark series of events. The film stars Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie.

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Streaming now on Netflix

In a story keenly attuned to the complexities of parenthood, race, and class, a family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when two strangers appear at their door. Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail wrote and directed the adaptation of this provocative, suspenseful novel, which stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Kevin Bacon.

The End We Start From by Megan Hunter

In theaters now

This poetic debut novel imagines new motherhood in the midst of an all-too-possible climate change catastrophe. As London is submerged below floodwaters, a woman and her newborn are forced from their home in search of safety. Their journey traces fear and wonder in a tale of endurance in the face of ungovernable change.

Poor Things by Alasdair Gray

In theaters now

Emma Stone, Ramy Youssef, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe star in the adaptation of this novel set in 1880s Scotland. With echoes of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this story traces the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life and possessed by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Wonka is coming to theaters December 15

The latest adaptation of Dahl's beloved fantasy takes on the origin story of Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) as a young man trying to open his own candy shop in an industry controlled by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is Coming to Disney+ December 20

Demigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods in the much-anticipated series adaptation of Riordan's bestselling fantasy franchise. The story of a 12-year-old boy who learns that he is the son of Poseidon. For his own protection, he is sent to Camp Half-Blood to begin learning how to wield his considerable powers.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Coming to theaters December 25

Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of Celie, a Black woman who, despite a lifetime of poverty and abuse, finds happiness, love, and the strength to defy her oppressors. Stephen Spielberg's award-winning 1985 film was the first adaptation of the book, followed by a stage musical, which serves as the basis for the new film, starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, and Danielle Brooks. 

Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine by Brock Yates

Ferrari is coming to theaters December 25

This sweeping biography of the enigmatic racer and sports car mogul is the inspiration for a new film starring Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley. The film depicts the summer of 1957 when Ferrari, reeling from the death of his son, his deteriorating marriage, and his company's impending bankruptcy, entered his team in the 1957 Mille Miglia, a treacherous road race. 

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon