5 books to read before they become Netflix shows and movies (and 20 more on the horizon)

One of the oldest models for creating a new movie or series with a built-in audience is book adaptations, because there's usually a devoted fanbase that has been eager to see one of their favorite stories brought to life. Netflix has dedicated itself to this structure, with many of its largest projects in recent years coming from existing IP.

There are many different ways to do a book adaptation. Most people expect a strict replication, with as many plot points and details preserved as possible. However, some adaptations find success from changing weak spots of the original books or using different strategies based on the strengths of film versus page. Others, like The Vampire Diaries, keep very little the same beyond character names and genre conventions.

Regardless of how the adaptation is done, however, it can be useful to read the book(s) before watching, to see what changes have been made and evaluate accordingly. In the next couple of years, Netflix is expected to put out at least 25 series and films based on books. Here are the main ones coming this year, as well as a brief description of projects we know are coming soon.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Sept. 13, 2024

Uglies is the first book in the series of the same name by Scott Westerfeld, which came out in 2005. The series is set in a dystopian future where teenagers undergo major cosmetic surgeries at age 16, which transition them into a life of luxury and ease. When a new friend introduces Tally to a rebellion against the "Pretty" operations, she risks losing everything she had been working toward.

A film adaptation was first announced back in 2006, but it didn't get past the development stages until 2020, when Joey King joined the project as an executive producer and star. If the film does well, it seems likely that the rest of the original trilogy, and possibly its surprise fourth addition, could be adapted as well.

Canyon Dreams by Michael Powell

As Rez Ball, Sept. 27, 2024

Canyon Dreams is a non-fiction story following Chinle High School, a Navajo school where basketball is a way to work through the complexities of life, both those standard in high schools across the country and those unique to the reservation. Author Michael Powell takes a sociological approach to the subject, detailing conversations shared with the team and community during his season with the team.

The film version was first announced in 2021, with Sydney Freeland (Deidra and Laney Rob a Train) directing and co-writing with Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs). With a predominantly indigenous cast and crew, Rez Ball is expected the bring to life the best of the book with even more nuance and authenticity. While it is not a direct adaptation, it is expected to have a similar tone and perspective.

Heartstopper: Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper season 3, Oct. 3, 2024

Heartstopper is a webcomic-turned-graphic novel series that follows Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring as they navigate school and their sexualities. It primarily focuses on the relationship between the two boys, with side plots revolving around their friends and family.

The graphic novel series was adapted for television in 2022, with the newest season set to debut in October 2024. As the second season drew on events from Volume 3, fans can expect Volume 4 to be the most influential in season 3. This volume focused on how to tell someone you love them, how relationships survive new struggles, and how to navigate mental illness.

Écoute by Boris Razon

As Emilia Pérez, Nov. 13, 2024

Écoute is a French crime novel which was adapted into an opera by Jacques Audiard. Audiard then adapted it again to film, which is how it will be presented on Netflix. The final story follows a lawyer who is helping a cartel leader undergo gender re-assignment.

Although there isn't much information available about the film, beyond its star-studded cast, Emilia Pérez has been taking film festivals by storm, winning awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival, and Cannes Film Festival.

That Christmas and Other Stories by Richard Curtis

As That Christmas, Dec. 4, 2024

Richard Curtis is one of the most prolific screenwriters out there, with a special emphasis on rom-coms. However, he is also a successful children's book author, with a trilogy of holiday stories titled The Empty Stocking, Snow Day, and That Christmas. The three stories explore the complexity of spending Christmas with family, especially when tradition gets in the way of bonding.

The movie adaptation is in animation style, weaving between the stories to deliver a message that the Christmas season is about far more than presents under a tree. This holiday treat is perfect for families, with the books being ideal for young children and early readers.

Other Netflix adaptations in the works

While the five above are the only upcoming Netflix adaptations with known release dates, as of September 2024, there are plenty of projects in the works that readers can dive into. The 20 titles below have all been announced, although we don't know how soon they'll be ready to stream.

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

It was recently announced that Benedict Bridgerton would be the star of Bridgerton season 4, which means it is time for readers to go back for the third book in the series. The book shows Benedict falling for the mysterious "Lady in Silver" who attended the family's masquerade ball. Expect a classic Cinderella story, although readers are divided on how well the love interests work together.

The Sandman, Seasons of Mist and Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman

The second season of The Sandman is on the way, and the plot is largely a mystery. However, Netflix's Tudum has indicated that new characters will be drawn from the fourth and seventh volumes of the graphic novels: Seasons of Mist and Brief Lives. While some arcs may come from other sections of The Sandman's run, these are the volumes to read ahead of the show for maximum enjoyment.

The Prom Queen by R. L. Stine

Given how successful Netflix's Fear Street trilogy was, it's no wonder that the streamer wants more from R. L. Stine. The newest film is based on the fifteenth book in the Fear Street lineup, which features the murders of multiple Prom Queen hopefuls, with the main character hoping to stop the killer before she too becomes their prey.

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

Never Lie is a thriller in which a woman finds a series of cassette tapes that hold the key to why a famous psychiatrist disappeared years before. The project will be produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, and Dan Cohen.

The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag

The Electric State is an illustrated novel following a teenage girl and her robot making a trip across a country that's falling apart. The film adaptation is being directed by the Russo Brothers and is set to star Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.

His & Hers by Alice Feeney

When a journalist and a detective begin investigating the same murder case, they both come under suspicion for being too close to the case, with secrets being kept on all sides. The novel is being adapted into a limited series for Netflix, with Tessa Thompson playing the leading role.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

A widow searching for the truth about her missing son ends up bonding with an octopus while working night shifts at the local aquarium, a set-up that probably shouldn't work for a book like this — but does. The award-winning novel by Shelby Van Pelt is on its way to becoming a movie, with Sally Field cast as the lead.

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley

After decades of discussion, Guillermo del Toro is finally working on his life-long passion project: a book-accurate version of Frankenstein. Although most people are familiar with the idea of Dr. Frankenstein bringing a patchwork man to life, the deep philosophical layers of the book are seldom covered. It will benefit del Toro's fans to read the original before his project is released, to understand all of the nuances he's hoping to capture.

My Oxford Year by Julia Whalen

Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest are set to star in one of Netflix's upcoming feel-good romance adaptations. When American Ella Durran goes abroad on a Rhodes Scholarship, she keeps running into devil-may-care player Jamie. He forces her to re-evaluate what she thought she wanted in life, and though they both resist it, they fall in love.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Poppy and Alex have been lifelong friends, meeting up every summer on vacation. However, an incident between them sends them flying onto opposite tracks. They agree to meet back up and see if there's a way for them to make a romance work, if they can stay friends, or if their connection is at an end. Playing the two leads are Tom Blyth and Emily Bader.

The Bible, Book of Ruth

Tyler Perry is currently working on R&B, a film that presents the Biblical couple Ruth and Boaz in a more modern setting. The love story will play out in Tennessee, where a former Atlantan goes to care for an elderly woman and find a true family.

Shy by Max Porter

Cillian Murphy is currently producing a film based on Max Porter's 2023 novella. The original story follows the events of one night at a British boaarding school, presented from the point of view of a student. The film version, retitled Steve, is going to take the same events from the perspective of one of the school's teachers.

The Ballad of a Small Player by Lawrence Osborne

A criminal needs to run to escape his past, and Macau seems like the perfect place to do it. The self-titled Lord Doyle is hiding out in casinos, losing money, until he runs into a detached callgirl that makes him question everything. The 2014 novel earned a lot of love for its psychological analysis, which helped sell the upcoming film adaptation starring Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton.

The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

In order to win her inheritance, Brett Bohlinger must complete all the tasks on her childhood wishlist. As she tries to race through a lifetime's worth of adventures, she must struggle with how to live in a world without her mother. Sofia Carson plays the woman, renamed Alex Rose for the film version, as she tries to find her way through a life that was more complicated than her younger self could imagine.

The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin

This crime thriller is set to star Vanessa Kirby as Lynette, a young woman fighting a system trying to keep her down to secure a house for her family. Though the concept might sound thin, the novel explores themes of desperation and morality, asking whether criminality is truly wrong when it’s the only chance for a worthwhile future.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

A likely favorite for fans of Only Murders in the Building, this movie follows a group of seniors in a retirement home who solve crimes in their spare time. While they typically work on cold cases, a murder in their community raises the stakes for the amateur detectives. The film finished production in mid-September, so a release date is likely to be announced soon.

The Twits by Roald Dahl

This animated film is set to be the first adaptation of Dahl’s book The Twits, which follows a group of orphans and animals as they try to stop the world’s worst people from hurting people with their tendency for cruel pranks. It’s the first in a line-up of animated Roald Dahl adaptations coming to Netflix.

Meet Me At The Lake by Carley Fortune

This book is being transformed into a movie by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as the first product of their deal with Netflix. The plot follows Fern Brookbanks, who is struggling to run her deceased mother’s business and living a life she never wanted. When she runs into an old fling, she has to decide whether she can trust someone who already broke her heart once before.

Missing You and Run Away by Harlan Coben

Thanks to the success of the limited series Fool Me Once, Netflix has announced that they will be adapting more of Harlan Coben’s novels. Missing You follows Kat Donovan, whose former fiance reappears after a decade to force her to relive the trauma of her father’s murder and find connections with a missing persons case. Run Away follows Simon Greene, whose daughter left home and found herself in trouble. As he tries to bring her home, he gets increasingly entangled in her secrets.