9 Books To Read Before They Hit The Screen
Sense & Sensibility
Jane Austen
Austen adaptations are always catnip but this one feels particularly well judged. Directed by Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean), this new take promises a sharper, more emotionally grounded look at the Dashwood sisters, without compromising on the romance. Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Elinor, with Esmé Creed-Miles as the impulsive Marianne, joined by Caitríona Balfe, Fiona Shaw and George MacKay. It arrives in cinemas in September 2026.
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The Testaments
Margaret Atwood
One of the most anticipated TV adaptations of the decade, The Testaments expands the world of The Handmaid’s Tale – and shifts the power dynamics in chilling new ways. Showrunner Bruce Miller adapts Atwood’s Booker-winning sequel with the same glossy dread as the original series. Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia, joined by a new generation of cast members. The series premieres in April 2026 on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK.
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Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Rufi Thorpe
Funny, sharp and devastating, Margo’s Got Money Troubles skewers modern motherhood, money and internet fame through the lens of a young woman forced to get creative when life falls apart. It’s clever without being smug, and uncomfortable in all the right places. The Apple TV+ adaptation stars Elle Fanning, who also executive produces, with David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, Anatomy of a Scandal) working behind the scenes. Landing later in 2026, this has all the makings of prestige TV with cultural cut-through.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
From the author of The Martian, this is big-brain sci-fi with blockbuster appeal. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the adaptation promises humour, heart and jaw-dropping spectacle in equal measure. Ryan Gosling leads as an amnesiac astronaut tasked with saving Earth, supported by Sandra Hüller. It hits cinemas in March 2026.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Cape Fear (The Executioners)
John D. MacDonald
Few thrillers feel as claustrophobic as this one. Reimagined for TV by Nick Antosca (The Act), Cape Fear leans harder into psychological horror than previous adaptations, stretching the cat-and-mouse tension across a full series. Directed by Martin Scorsese (who also executive produces), it stars Javier Bardem as the unnervingly calm antagonist, opposite Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson. Streaming on Apple TV+ from June, this one’s shaping up to be seriously unsettling.
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Imperfect Women
Araminta Hall
If glossy psychological thrillers with a dark underbelly are your thing, this should be top of the pile. Adapted and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland, Mad Men), Imperfect Women explores how a single crime fractures a decades-long friendship – and questions how well we ever really know the people closest to us. It has a solid cast, starring Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara, landing on Apple TV+ in March 2026.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Lucky
Marissa Stapley
A lottery win should solve everything – but in this slick, fast-paced thriller, it becomes the start of a very different kind of nightmare. When a woman suddenly comes into an obscene amount of money, paranoia, danger and long-buried secrets quickly follow. Think glossy escapism with a dark edge. The Apple TV+ series stars and is executive produced by Anya Taylor-Joy, continuing her run of high-style, high-stakes roles. It’s due to arrive in summer 2026.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Scarpetta (Postmortem)
Patricia Cornwell
Crime adaptations don’t get more prestigious than this. Overseen by David Gordon Green, Scarpetta finally brings Patricia Cornwell’s iconic forensic pathologist to the small screen – with the budget and talent she deserves. Nicole Kidman stars as Dr Kay Scarpetta, opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana DeBose and Bobby Cannavale. Expect slick production, complex female characters and plenty of grisly detail when it lands on Prime Video in March 2026.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Reminders Of Him
Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover’s books were always destined for the big screen – and this one feels especially cinematic. Directed by Vanessa Caswill (Love at First Sight), the adaptation leans into emotional intimacy rather than melodrama. Maika Monroe leads as a young woman trying to rebuild her life after a devastating loss, supported by Lauren Graham. Expect tears and forgiveness arcs when it arrives in March 2026.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
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