Original ideas are turning into financial gambles for studios. Still, Hollywood has found its ultimate insurance policy: pairing best-selling books with elite directors and creators to create box-office hits and streaming obsessions.
Film News Blitz writer Jesse-Ann Baron breaks down what’s coming and why that pairing has become Hollywood’s safest bet.
What book adaptations are hitting theatres in 2026?
1 – ‘The Odyssey’
Release date: 17 July, 2026
Director: Christopher Nolan
An adaptation of Homer’s classic epic The Odyssey is coming to cinemas on 17 July, with the award-winning director Christopher Nolan at the helm.
The famous story follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, on his treacherous voyage back home after the Trojan War.
This is brought to the big screen with a star-studded cast including Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Mia Goth, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland and way more.
2 – ‘The Dog Stars’
Release date: 28 August, 2026
Director: Ridley Scott
The acclaimed director Ridley Scott is doing what he does best: a sci-fi film.
Based on the 2012 Peter Heller novel of the same name, we join survivors in a post-apocalyptic world as they follow a mysterious radio signal in search of a better life.
The Dog Stars stars Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley in leading roles from the book.
3 – ‘Practical Magic 2’
Release date: 11 September, 2026
Director: Susanna Bier
The 2021 Alice Hoffman novel, The Book of Magic, is the source material for the sequel to the 1998 cult-classic film Practical Magic.
The original stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reprise their roles as the magical Owens sisters.
The film follows the Owens family as they fight to officially end the love curse that has been ruining their family for the past 300 years.
4 – ‘Sense and Sensibility’
Release date: 25 September, 2026 (UK)/16 October, 2026 (US)
Director: Georgia Oakley
A remake of the beloved Oscar-winning film Sense and Sensibility is set to take to the big screen again.
Similar to the first film, it will stay faithful to the Jane Austen narrative about the Dashwood sisters and their mother.
A new generation of stars will give a refreshing take on the classic with Daisy-Edgar-Jones, George MacKay and Esmé Creed-Miles.
5 – ‘Verity’
Release date: 2 October, 2026
Director: Michael Showalter
Colleen Hoover strikes again with another book-to-screen adaptation, this time for her novel Verity.
The story follows a man who hires a woman to ghostwrite novels for his bestselling author wife, Verity.
Nothing is as it seems, with dark, disturbing secrets being brought to the light.
Similar to the past Hoover adaptations, big screen names such as Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Harnett bring this story to the theatres.
6 – ‘Klara and the Sun’
Release date: 23 October, 2026
Director: Taika Waititi
The film brings the stellar combination of award-winning director Taika Waititi and the Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling novel to life.
Klara and the Sun follows a robot girl played by Jenna Ortega who tries to heal a family of humans from heartbreak.
Alongside Ortega are Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne, to name a few stars bringing this sci-fi adaptation to the screen.
7 – ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’
Release date: November 20, 2026
Director: Francis Lawrence
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is based on the 2025 book by Suzanne Collins of the same name and follows fellow Hunger Games prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023).
In this film, we see Coriolanus Snow older, played by Ralph Fiennes, 24 years before the actual events of The Hunger Games take place.
But the centre of the story is 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada) during the barbaric 50th Hunger Games known as the Second Quarter Quell.
8. ‘Dune: Part Three’
Release date: 18 December, 2026
Director: Denis Villeneuve
The much-awaited part three of the popular Dune film series is coming this year, and is based upon, with deviations, Frank Herbert’s novel Dune: Messiah.
The story follows Emperor Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, 17 years into his reign, navigating a galaxy-wide holy war and a complex relationship with Chani (Zendaya).
What book-to-screen adaptations should you stream next?
1 – ‘House of the Dragon’
Release date: 21 June, 2026/ finale 9 August, 2026
Where to watch: HBO and HBO Max
Season three has finally arrived from George R.R Martin’s universe, and we dive deeper into Targaryen history.
We see the fallout of the Targaryen civil war, Rhaenyra capturing the Iron Throne, and new conflicts rising and old loyalties damaged.
The episodes are released weekly every Sunday on HBO, so if you loved Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is another series worth binging.
2 – ‘Little House on the Prairie’
Release date: 9 July, 2026
Where to watch: Netflix
This upcoming television series, Little House on the Prairie, is a reboot of the long-running 1970s series of the same name.
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical novels will be followed more religiously than the first series adaptation.
Netflix has so much confidence in this series that they have already renewed it for a second season, so if you loved the Anne with an E series, you might enjoy this heart-warming adaptation.
3 – ‘Lucky’
Release date: 15 July, 2026
Where to watch: Apple TV+
The limited series adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel by Marissa Stapley is coming to Apple TV+.
This gritty thriller follows a reformed con-artist Lucky, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who is forced to embrace her dark side as she runs across the US for her life.
4 – ‘Heartstopper Forever’
Release date: 17 July, 2026
Where to watch: Netflix
The Heartstopper series is being concluded in a film with an emotional final goodbye to the characters and hints at what their futures will be.
The film will pick up where season three ended with Nick preparing to leave for University and Charlie finding true independence at school.
5 – ‘The Whisper Man’
Release date: 28 August, 2026
Where to watch: Netflix
This psychological thriller is based on the 2019 international bestselling novel of the same name by Alex North.
The story follows a grieving father moving to a quiet town with his young son, but after his son is abducted, he starts digging up the history of the town’s serial killer from 15 years ago.
A stellar cast with Adam Scott, Robert De Niro, Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan make this series worth a watch.
6 – ‘The Love Hypothesis’
Release date: 23 September, 2026
Where to watch: Prime Video
The Love Hypothesis is based on the bestselling novel by Ali Hazelwood that follows a fake relationship between scientists that turns into something more.
Famous on BookTok, the romantic comedy adaptation stars Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman.
7 – ‘Pride and Prejudice’
Release date: TBD
Where to watch: Netflix
This much-anticipated six-part adaptation of the Jane Austen novel is teased to be released this Autumn.
The limited series will have Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden play the classic Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.
Expect to see Olivia Colman and other familiar faces in this new series of the timeless Austen novel of the same name.
What book adaptations are worth the wait in 2027?
1 – ‘Children of Blood and Bone’
Release date: 15 January, 2027
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
The popular young adult novel skyrocketed to number one on The New York Times by Tomi Adeyemi.
The fantasy romance is going to the big screen following a woman blessed by the gods with magical powers who lives in a kingdom where it is forbidden.
Children of Blood and Bone will be brought to audiences with an all-star cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Damson Idris, Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo and more.
2 – ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’
Release date: 12 February, 2027
Director: Greta Gerwig
The talented Greta Gerwig is taking the beloved Narnia series from C.S Lewis and adapting it for a whole new generation.
The Magician’s Nephew will give audiences the origin story of Narnia in film form.
It follows two children, Digory and Polly, who witness the creation of Narnia and accidentally bring an evil witch into the world.
3 – ‘The Nightingale’
Release date: 12 February, 2027
Directors: Mélanie Laurent, Michael Morris
This poignant story follows two sisters in France who are torn apart during World War II.
The Nightingale is based on the popular historical fiction novel by Kristin Hannah, which gives a voice to the unsung heroines of wars.
The characters are played by real sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, who are not only starring together for the first time in a film, but they have produced it as well.
Why are book adaptations Hollywood’s safest bet right now?
Out of all the films and series listed above, there is a common pattern repeating itself.
Big production films are going with not only well-known directors like Nolan for The Odyssey or Scott for Dog Stars but also famous stars.
However, it is not just talented directors and all-star casts that are being chosen specifically, but bestselling novels too.
There is no niche pick of novels; instead, it is books with a built-in fanbase, which translates to an already eager audience.
These classic novels or bestselling new books are turned into hits as studios are capitalising on the tried and tested IP from the book industry.
Through observing the growing trend of BookTok, many studios may be attracted to turning these trending titles into streaming obsessions like Off Campus.
Recently, studios are sticking to comfortable options of sequels and prequels, but now bestselling novel adaptations that come with built-in audiences are the new safest bet.
Maybe pick up your new favourite book and wait just a moment because it might become a series or a movie.
Pair a proven book with a popular name, and you’ve built a hit before you witness a single frame.
READ NEXT – Top three Japanese films loved by locals available on Netflix and Amazon Prime
