15 TV shows and films in 2023 that have been adapted from acclaimed page-turning books
There's nothing like getting lost in a good book. It transports us to another world in the comfort of our sofa, bedroom, reading nooks, etc. Some stories are just too magnificent and larger-than-life that the need to turn them into big-screen dramas is an absolute must.
Some of the best movies and TV shows of all time started out as novels – and we're in for a real cinematic treat this year with the latest Hollywood offerings having been adapted from acclaimed novels.
Take, for instance, Riley Keough and Sam Claflin coming together for the Daisy Jones and The Six, based on the book written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, soon to hit Prime Video, and looks like it'll definitely entertain us with its music, drama, romantic affairs, and entanglements.
It looks so good.
There's also the wonderful author Cheryl Strayed, who had her book Wild turned into major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon in 2014. Her work is once again getting the Hollywood treatment, with her novel Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar turned into a drama series starring Kathryn Hahn. You also can't go wrong with a good ol' thriller novel turned into a mind-bending television series, and we'll be able to count on Jennifer Garner in The Last Thing He Told Me, first penned by Laura Dave.
So, without further ado, here's a list of the 15 TV shows and films that have been adapted from books that will be a must-watch!
Jessica BrooksTV: The Last Thing He Told Me
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Angourie Rice, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aisha Tyler
Plot: The Last Thing He Told Me was a novel published back in 2021 and became an instant #1 New York Times Bestseller. So, it's no surprise that the book was quickly developed into a thriller miniseries and sees Hannah form an unexpected relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter Bailey to find the truth about why her husband mysteriously disappeared.
Release date: 14 April on Apple TV+
Zach DilgardTV: City on Fire
Starring: Wyatt Oleff, Chase Sui Wonders, Jemima Kirke, Nico Tortorella
Plot: Samantha Cicciaro was tragically shot in Central Park, New York City, on July 4, 2003. However, criminal investigators discover that her death is a crucial connection between the mysterious city-wide fires, the downtown music scenes and the secret, wealthy real estate family living upstate. The show is based on the book of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg.
Release date: 12 May in Apple TV+
TV: Tiny Beautiful Things
Starring: Kathryn Hahn, Merritt Wever
Plot: Wild author Cheryl Strayed is also the woman behind the book Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar, published in 2012. The series, entitled Tiny Beautiful Things, follows the relationships an anonymous advice columnist Sugar has with her real-life readers.
Release date: 7 April on Disney+
TV: Daisy Jones & The Six
Starring: Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Suki Waterhouse
Plot: Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this novel follows the story of a band in the 1970s – based on Fleetwood Mac, reportedly – in LA, along with their romantic affairs and entanglements. Just the kind of drama we want and need. A TV series update is coming with Riley Keough (Mad Max and The Devil All The Time) as Daisy and heart throb Sam Claflin and Suki Waterhouse also starring.
Release date: 3 March on Prime Video
Miya MizunoTV: Great Expectations
Starring: Olivia Colman, Fionn Whitehead, Ashley Thomas, Hayley Squires
Plot: Based on the famous novel of the same name by Charles Dickens, published in 1861, Great Expectations is a coming-of-age story of a young orphan named Pip who pines for a great life. However, when shown a dark world of possibilities by the eccentric Miss. Havisham, Pip realises he has great expectations placed upon him and has to work out the true cost of his new world and whether it would make him the man he truly wishes to be.
Release date: To be confirmed but will air on BBC1 and BBCiPlayer.
TV: Three Women
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Betty Gilpin, DeWanda Wise
Plot: Lisa Taddeo's devastating book on the experiences of, you guessed it, three real-life women as they navigate love, loss and trauma is an incredible must-read in its own right. But now it's being adapted into a TV series, with Shailene Woodley, Betty Gilpin and DeWanda Wise starring.
Release date: UK release date is yet to be confirmed.
TV: Six Four
Starring: Kevin McKidd, Vinette Robinson, Richard Coyle
Plot: Six Four is based on the best-selling novel by Hideo Yokoyama and centres on the themes of betrayal, corruption and kidnapping. The series follows the journey of police detective Chris whose life turns upside down when his teenage daughter goes missing. As he frantically searches for her, an unresolved case from the past also comes back to haunt him.
Release date: To be confirmed.
TV: Exciting Times
Starring: Phoebe Dynevor
Plot: An incredible debut novel from Irish author Naoise Dolan, Exciting Times follows protagonist Ava as she builds a life in Hong Kong, finding herself in relationships with emotionally available banker Julian and intriguing lawyer Edith. Will there be a love triangle?
Release date: To be confirmed.
Katie Yu/Prime VideoFILM: The Power
Starring: Toni Collette, Auli'i Cravalho
Plot: Anything Toni Collette touches turns to gold, so we only expect big things from her in The Power, which is based on Naomi Alderman's 2016 novel of the same name. This series sees teenage girls suddenly develop the ability to electrocute people by touch. This new power prompts the reimagining of how the world evolves and follows five characters who have the power balance of the world in their hands.
Release date: 31 March on Prime Video
FILM: Love Again
Starring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Heughan, Nick Jonas, Celine Dion
Plot: Love Again is a remake of the 2016 German film SMS für Dich, based on the novel by Sofie Cramer. The story sees Mira Ray struggling to deal with the passing of her fiancé and, to cope, begins sending romantic texts to his old number without realising the number has been assigned to journalist Rob's new work phone. Rob is captivated by her texts, and the pair eventually cross paths...
Release date: 12 May in cinemas.
FILM: The Killer
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton
Plot: Based on the French graphic novel series of the same title by Alexis Nolent, The Killer sees the titular character waiting in the shadows for his prey, but unfortunately, the longer he waits, the longer he loses his mind.
Release date: 10 November on Netflix
FILM: Oppenheimer
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Rami Malek, Natt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.
Plot: Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the movie follows the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his contributions that led to the development of the atomic bomb.
Release date: 21 July in cinemas.
FILM: Dune: Part Two
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler
Plot: Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two is a sequel to the 2021 film, with both movies being adapted from the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. The movie continues to follow Paul Atreides, who seeks revenge against the conspirator who destroyed his family, which forced him to choose between the fate of the universe or the love of his life.
Release date: 3 November in cinemas
FILM: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Starring: Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Benny Safdie, Elle Graham
Plot: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is an upcoming American coming-of-age comedy-drama film based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Judy Blume. The movie sees an adolescent girl who a Christian mother and Jewish father have raised, start asking questions about faith and religion after
Release date: 23 April in cinemas
FILM: Peter Pan
Starring: Jude Law, Yara Shahidi
Plot: Who doesn’t love the story of the boy who never grew up? Disney is bringing Peter Pan and co back to our screens this year with a live remake called Peter Pan & Wendy. Looks like the whole gang is back, and Jude *freaking* Law is playing Captain Hook. This is not a drill.
Release date: TBC, but set to hit Disney+ this year.
