Outlander, Shogun and More Book-to-Screen Adaptations to Watch

Mickey 17 

Based On: The 2022 novel Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Naomi Ackie and Mark Ruffalo

Premieres: January 31

Why We’re Excited: R-Patz is at his best when he’s able to get a little weird. and Bong Joon Ho’s adaptation is promising all that and at least 18 iterations of the Twilight star as he plays a space colonist who is sent on missions guaranteed to kill him—but whose body regenerates every time he dies. Except for one time where one of his alter egos inexplicably survives and returns to meet the latest version of himself. 

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Based On: The 2013 third book in Helen Jones’ Bridget Jones series 

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall and Jim Broadbent

Premieres: Feb. 13 on Peacock and internationally in theaters Feb. 14

Why We’re Excited: We’re always ready for another adventure with Bridget Jones—and this installment reunites her with a very much alive Daniel Cleaver. Now navigating life as a single mom of two after the death of Mark Darcy—though, fear not, Firth still makes appearances in the trailer in a ghostly form—Bridget is back in the spotlight. And it appears she has a new pair of men to choose between: Woodall’s dashing younger man and Ejiofor, who plays her son’s charming teacher. We may, in fact, be already seated. 

Reacher Season 3

Based On: Persuader, the seventh book in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series

Starring: Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Anthony Michael Hall, Sonya Cassidy, Brian Tee, Johnny Berchtold, Robert Montesinos, Daniel David Stewart and Olivier Richters

Premieres: Feb. 20 on Prime Video

Why We’re Excited: From the start, the Prime Video series has been a thrilling, action-packed adventure that is simply fun to watch. And the show’s third outing is shaping up to be no different as the titular ex-Marine is on the hunt, rescuing a DEA agent when he stumbles into a vast criminal enterprise that forces him to confront some secrets from his past.

Long Bright River 

Based On: Liz Moore’s 2020 novel

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Nicholas Pinnock and Ashleigh Cummings

Premieres: March 13

Why We’re Excited: Seyfried returns to TV in this Philadelphia-set drama about a police officer who sets out to find her missing sister amid a string of murders in their opioid-ravaged neighborhood. Dark and moody, this series sounds like it’ll have us on the edge of our seats the whole very tense time.

The Electric State

Based On: Simon Stalenhag’s 2018 graphic novel 

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Jenny Slate, Brian Cox and Giancarlo Esposito

Premieres: March 14

Why We’re Excited: In this version of the ‘90s, a civil war between humans and robots has broken out and in the middle of all of this, orphan Michelle (Brown) is off on an adventure to find her missing brother. Joining her is Keats (Pratt) a smuggler she meets along the way. The Russo Brothers are no strangers to blockbuster movies and with a pretty stellar cast of live-action and voice actors in the mix, it’ll be sure to be a wild ride from start to finish.

Snow White

Based On: The Brothers Grimm’s 1812 story 

Starring: Rachel Ziegler, Andrew Burlap and Gal Gadot

Premieres: In theaters March 21

Why We’re Excited: At last, the OG Disney animated movie—itself based on the Brothers Grimm tale—is getting the live-action treatment. And with Greta Gerwig, joined by Erin Cressida Wilson, writing the screenplay, we know we’re in for a magical coming of age adventure. 

The Amateur

Based on: Robert Littell’s 1981 book

Starring: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Laurence Fishburne and Caitríona Balfe
Premieres: April 11

Why We’re excited: Two words: Espionage thriller. It’s time for Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan, Ethan Hunt and Jason Bourne to step aside to give Charles Heller—a CIA cryptographer looking to take revenge on the terrorists who killed his wife—his time in the spotlight. 

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3

Based On: We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

Starring: Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, and Rain Spencer
Premieres:  Summer 2025 on Prime Video

Why We’re Excited: After spending Summer 2024 away from Cousins, viewers are clamoring for another trip to check in on the ever-evolving love triangle between Belly Conklin and brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. While Team Jeremiah is currently feeling the love, the 11-episode third installment may just reveal which Fisher brother is Belly’s end game.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 

Based On: The 1973 book of the same name by Lois Duncan

Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr., Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers, Jonah Hauer-King, Lola Tung, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Austin Nichols and Gabbriette

Premieres: In theaters July 18

Why We’re Excited: The fourth installment of the beloved horror franchise will be the first to feature an OG cast member—and maybe two—in more than two decades. The new film, a follow-up to the 1998 sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, follows a new set of teens terrorized over an incident in their past. Though, with Prinze reprising his role as survivor Ray Bronson—Jennifer Love Hewitt is reportedly in talks to return as Julie James—this next generation has a better shot at making it out alive. Suffice to say, we know what we’re doing this summer. 

Slow Horses Season 5

Based On: London Rules, book five of Mick Herron’s Slow Horses series

Starring: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden and Kristin Scott Thomas

Premieres: TBD 2025 on Apple TV+

Why We’re Excited: Once again, Jackson Lamb and his ragtag crew of MI-5 misfits out of Slough House are on the case as they’re assigned to protect the prime minister from a series of threats while juggling a threat to one of the team. But as this is the Slow Horses we’re talking about, prepare for many blunders, Lamb to consume a series of disgusting snacks and hopefully few casualties.

We Were Liars 

Header: Based On: E. Lockhart’s 2014 YA novel

Starring: Emily Alyn Lind, Subham Maheshwari, Esther McGregor, Joseph Zada, Mamie Gummer, Candice King, Caitlin FitzGerald and Rahul Kohli 

Premieres: TBD on Prime Video

Why We’re Excited: This YA thriller dominated social media long before BookTok dictated TBR lists. And with good reason as it centers on wealthy teen Cadence Sinclair, who returns to her family’s private island two years after an accident left her with amnesia. Once she’s on the island, memories of the summer where her life changed forever start to come back—and the twists don’t end there. And with Family of Liars also getting the adaptation treatment, our time with the Sinclair family is only getting started. 

The Running Man

Based On: Stephen King’s 1982 novel (writing as Richard Bachman)

Starring: Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Katy O'Brian, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra and William H. Macy

Premieres: In theaters Nov. 21

Why We’re Excited: Let the season of Glen Powell continue. The Hit Man star takes on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in the remake, which follows a man’s quest to survive a game show that sees people chased around the world by murderous “Hunters” for money. Making this all the more sinister? The film, like its release date, is set in a rapidly approaching 2025. We’re absolutely on board for this one—although a bit terrified, tbh. 

Wicked 

The Thursday Murder Club 

Based On: The 2020 book of the same name by Richard Osman

Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Naomi Ackie and Jonathan Pryce

Premieres: TBD 2025 on Netflix

Why We’re Excited: The books themselves, following four retirees who have an eye for solving crimes, are simply delightful. Add this cast into the mix and we’re in for a cozy mystery for the ages. 

The Woman in Cabin 10

Based On: Ruth Ware’s 2016 novel of the same name

Starring: Keira Knightley, Guy Pierce, Hannah Waddingham, Daniel Ings, Kaya Scodelario, David Adala and Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Premieres: TBD on Netflix

Why We’re Excited: Being trapped on a cruise is already a nightmare for many but imagine witnessing someone get tossed overboard—only to not be taken seriously when trying to raise the alarm. That and a whole lot of danger is what Knightley is facing in the Netflix adaptation of one of Ware’s earlier thrillers. 

People We Meet on Vacation

Based On: The 2021 Emily Henry novel of the same name
Starring: Tom Blyth, Emily Bader, Lucian Laviscount, Jameela Jamil, Lukas Gage and Sarah Catherine Hook

Premieres: TBD on Netflix

Why We’re Excited: Henry has already taken women’s literature by storm in recent years, so it was only a matter of time before her novels got the big screen treatment. And after major turns in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and My Lady Jane, respectively, Blyth and Bader have proven they may just be the perfect Alex and Poppy. 

Kay Scarpetta

Based On: Patricia Cornwell's mega-popular series of the same name that has 26 books in total
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana DeBose, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker and Jake Cannavale
Premieres: TBD on Amazon Prime Video
Why We're Excited: If it's based on a book and Kidman stars in it, we will binge the s--t out of it. (See: Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and the fact that this is her second appearance on this list.) Add in that the Oscar winners will be playing crime-fighting sisters and it's already become our favorite new show of the year.

Frankenstein

Based On: Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 gothic horror

Starring: Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz

Premieres: TBD 2025 on Netflix

Why we’re excited: Knowing Isaac is starring as Victor Frankenstein and Elordi will play the monster himself is enough to have us seated already. Still, while there have been countless works based on the iconic novel, Guillermo Del Toro—whose vision will come to life at Netflix after nearly two decades—has proven time and time again that when it comes to gothic horror, nobody does it better. 

Bridgerton Season 4

Based On: An Offer From A Gentleman

Starring: Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, Jonathan Bailey, Claudia Jessie, Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, Katie Leung, Michelle Mao and Isabella Wei.

Release Date: TBD on Netflix

Why We’re Excited: After three seasons trying to cement a place in his family and discovering himself, fan-favorite Benedict Bridgerton at last finds love in the upcoming installment. And newcomer Ha is joining the Netflix hit’s ever-growing ensemble as his love interest Sophie Baek.

His & Hers

Based on: Alice Feeney’s 2020 Novel

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Crystal Fox, Sunita Mani, and Rebecca Rittenhouse

Premieres: TBD on Netflix

Why We’re Excited: A twisty thriller that brings a recluse back to their hometown is always an immediate yes, and in this limited series, it’s Thompson’s Anna whose return following a murder captivates a local detective (new Emmy winner Bernthal) who is also investigating the crime. 

Wuthering Heights

Based on: Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Starring: Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie

Why We’re Excited: Cue the Kate Bush classic, we’re heading back to the moors. Filmmaker Emerald Fennell is reteaming with her Saltburn collaborators—Elordi starred and Robbie produced—for a take on Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff that we’ve surely never seen before.

Project Hail Mary

Based On: Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller and Milana Vayntrub

Release Date: March 20, 2026

Why We’re Excited: Sure, Gosling’s been to space as the first man, but his latest mission takes him out of this galaxy as he wakes up from a coma as the sole survivor in an expedition to the Tau Ceti solar system—a cool 12 light-years away from Earth. Things only get worse now that he’s solo and must continue his mission to reverse solar dimming and save humanity from extinction. NBD!

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Based On: Suzanne Collins’ forthcoming book of the same name

Starring: TBD
Premieres: November 20, 2026

Why We’re Excited: On the same day Collins’ latest trip to Panem was announced (the book will drop in March 2025), Lionsgate confirmed it would be adapting the much-anticipated story following a young Haymitch Abernathy—Peeta and Katniss’ famously haunted mentor in the 74^th Hunger Games—during his winning battle in the 50^th Games. 

 The Housemaid

Based On: Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel

Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar and Michele Marrone

Premieres: TBD

Why We’re Excited: The cast alone is enough to have us seated for the adaptation, which follows a maid to a wealthy family with some very sinister secrets bubbling under the surface. But Paul Feig, who is no stranger to a twisty story with A Simple Favor—and its forthcoming sequel—is at the helm so it’s safe to say we’re in for quite a ride. 

Verity

Based on: The 2021 book by Colleen Hoover

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett

Premieres: TBD

Why We're Excited: For starters, we can look no further than Anne, Dakota and Josh. The book—which follows a struggling writer who is asked to complete a best-selling series after the author's mysterious accident—is already a wild, twisty ride. And with this trio at the center, seeing it brought to life on screen is all the more exciting. 

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Based on: Rufi Thorpe’s 2024 novel
Starring: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman

Premieres: TBD on Apple TV+
Why we’re Excited: Is it really a limited series if it doesn’t have Kidman popping up in it? Thorpe’s book—following the daughter of a former Hooters waitress and a onetime pro-wrestler who turns to OnlyFans after becoming a single mom at 20—is already excellent on its own. But this casting has certainly placed this eight-episode series at the top of the must-watch list.