With Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein coming soon, we’ve gathered a few more literary faves that are being adapted into films for streaming services and the big screen.
Literature and film—can you think of a more inspired combination? Both inform and enrich each other, producing some of the finest masterpieces out there (and some veritable flops, but A+ for effort). Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has gotten book nerds excited, while Emerald Fennel’s take on Wuthering Heights is already eliciting outcries from fans for various reasons (but hey, in the age of the internet, bad publicity is still publicity).
Then there’s the fresh line-up of Jane Austen adaptations, namely a new Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility—news that also leaves certain fans with mixed feelings as they cling onto what they already consider a perfect, untouchable set of adaptations from Joe Wright and Ang Lee (this writer included, but that’s another essay entirely).
Still, each time we hear news of great books getting film adaptations, we can’t help but hope they do the source material justice. While literature has its inimitable merits as a medium, there’s still a lot to be gained from seeing it translated into another art form. Whether you’ve already read the novel (flex much?) or are waiting for the film to convince you to give it a go, we’ve gathered six more book-to-movie adaptations to watch out for in 2025 and beyond.
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Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Hamnet is admittedly the film I’m most excited about, mainly because Paul Mescal has already starred in two movies that made me bawl my eyes out after watching them—three times the charm, right? Directed by Chloé Zhao (Nomadland and Songs My Brothers Taught Me) and produced by Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes, the film is an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name.
We all know Shakespeare, but this story digs deeper, exploring the inspiration behind one of his greatest works, Hamlet: his son, and the book’s titular character, Hamnet. Did the great playwright really have a son who inspired the play? Not really. The novel itself is historical fiction, a reimagining of the man’s life with his wife Anne Hathaway (who takes on the name “Agnes” in the story). Still, historically accurate or not, it’s a poignant exploration of grief, trauma, and family, one that’s left many readers in tears.
As for the movie? Well, early reviews are in, and it seems to have the same effect on viewers. Film critics Peter Debruge of Variety and Bilge Ebiri of Vulture both described it as “devastating” in separate features, and the film is said to be a strong Oscar contender already. Now the only question is, are we ready to be devastated? (Yes, definitely.) Now’s as good a time as any to read the book—but if you’d rather let the film surprise you, that’s fine too.
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One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg
Isabel Greenberg’s One Hundred Nights of Hero is actually a graphic novel, but it’s technically literature, just rendered visually. The trailer for its upcoming film adaptation just came out, and with an interesting cast including Nicholas Galitzine, Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, Felicity Jones, and yes, Charli XCX (even I had to do a double-take), it promises to be an interesting watch.
A wicked aristocrat by the name of Jerome makes a wager: if his friend Manfred can seduce his wife Cherry in 100 nights, then he can take his castle—and her. The only catch? Cherry is in love with her maid Hero. To prevent this deal from happening, Hero sets out to distract and captivate Manfred in that span of time.
Visually speaking, at least from what we’ve seen so far, the film seems to nail the almost dreamlike and absurd visuals of the source material’s magical, medieval world. A fresh spin on another classic tale, One Thousand and One Nights, it’s a story about the power of stories, this time centered around the love of two women who find solace in one another amid a patriarchal system.
The Odyssey by Homer
The Odyssey was originally sung or recited in its home of ancient Greece, but has since been translated (multiple times) into the behemoth book that it is. The story about a morally grey man who goes through countless trials and tribulations to get home—only to find himself changed and haunted—continues to be a compelling one, which is why people haven’t stopped reading and adapting Homer’s epic.
Christopher Nolan has taken up the challenge of creating the tale’s newest adaptation, which is currently in production. All we have is a poster with the tagline “Defy the Gods.” Nolan will inevitably take his creative liberties, but seeing as how he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, we can at least hope he possesses a deep understanding of makes the gargantuan story such a timeless one—and how to bring the best of it to the big screen, his way (let’s see if he manages to find actual sea monsters).
In the meantime, it might help to read the source material. Not sure where to start? We released a little starter guide to get you prepped before the film hits theaters.
People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
Emily Henry has become one of the most beloved romance writers of this generation, and you know what? She deserves the accolades. I’m a big fan of her work: sweet, realistic, packed with chemistry, and just deliciously bingeable when you need a pick-me-up. Some of her novels will make you cry, some will make you laugh, most will do both.
People We Meet On Vacation is a great example of this, centered on two long-distance friends, Alex and Poppy. Despite being polar opposites, they get along swimmingly and decide to spend one glorious vacation together every summer. Sadly, things go south after 10 years, and their relationship is upended until they agree to take one “final” trip together in an attempt to fix things.
The book’s film adaptation is slated to premiere on Netflix come January 2026, under director Brett Haley and in partnership with Sony Pictures. Tom Blyth (who made waves for his performance in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) stars as Alex, while Emily Bader takes on the role of Poppy.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (yes, a mouthful of a name) was the talk of the book community when it began gaining popularity a few years back. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s book took all the glitz and glamor of old Hollywood, then turned it into a sweeping lesbian romance—it was a recipe for success, if she played her cards right (and she did). I have to say, this one has been intriguing too: the novel already reads like a movie, smooth and stark imagery that flows from scene to scene, dialogue that flies off the page. It’s material that’s rife with potential.
Journalist Monique Grant gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview the novel’s eponymous aging Hollywood icon—a known recluse at this point in the story—and learns more about a part of her life she’s kept hidden for a long time. As the narrative progresses, the two women’s stories begin to intertwine, resulting in a gut punch of an ending (but really, the whole book is a rollercoaster worthy of any tabloid).
The novel will be getting a Netflix adaptation (announced in 2022), though there hasn’t been any further news on development and casting. Taylor Jenkins Reid is quite involved in the production process, which is a good sign. “We’re all hard at work. We’re taking it very seriously and I give Netflix so much credit because they have such an immense respect for the readership of that book. They want to make them happy,” she shares in an interview with the Associated Press.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
We already have some solid Kazuo Ishiguro film adaptations out there. There’s 1993’s unforgettably heartwrenching Remains of the Day and 2010’s Never Let Me Go (not as strong as Remains, but still pretty good as far as adaptations go). So we have reason to hope that the upcoming film for his dystopian sci-fi novel Klara and the Sun will continue this blessed streak.
The story, which resonates in today’s world maybe even more than when the book was first released in 2021, follows an “Artificial Friend” named Klara, who was created to serve as a companion to genetically-modified children. Taken in by a particular family, she becomes the friend of a young girl named Josie—and learns more about the world’s light and darkness, as well as what it means to love and be loved, in the process.
The film was initially set to release in 2024; though there hasn’t been any updates on production since then, there’s speculation of a possible release within the next two years. Director Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit and What We Do in the Shadows) is set to direct, with Jenna Ortega as Klara, and a supporting cast including Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi, Natasha Lyonne, and Simon Baker.
