Fall is the perfect time for curling up with a good book—or maybe a good movie. (We’re not monsters.) Even better if you can hit two birds with one stone, of course, and this after all is Literary Hub, so here we present the literary movies and TV shows—adaptations, documentaries, and other book-adjacent fare—we’re most looking forward to this season.* Let us know what you’re most excited for in the comments.
*NB: For this preview, I’m only including TV series premieres (you should already know about Slow Horses) and film debuts in the US market.
SEPTEMBER:
Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day
In theaters, September 4
Literary bona fides: based on Night & Day by Virginia Woolf (1919)
You could say Virginia Woolf is having a moment, though personally, I’d have to argue, when isn’t she? This film, which adapts Woolf's little-read second novel, is Woolf by way of John Hughes: an Edwardian-era rom-com about an astronomer who does everything in her power to avoid what is expected of her: getting married. Tina Gharavi directs based on a screenplay by Justine Waddell; Haley Bennett stars as Katherine Hilbery, with Lily Allen as Mary Datchet, Elyas M’Barek as Ralph Denham, and Jack Whitehall as William Rodney.
A Tale of Two Cities
MGM+, September 6
Literary bona fides: based on A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859)
Kit Harrington and François Civil portray the doubles Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay, joined by Mirren Mack as Lucie Manette, in Daniel West’s four-part adaptation of Dickens’ historical classic, directed by Richard R. Clark. Although A Tale of Two Cities is frequently cited among the best-selling novels of all time, this marks the first significant screen adaptation since the 1980s. Critics remain divided about the result.
Masterpiece: Marble Hall Murders
PBS, September 6
Literary bona fides: based on Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz (2025)
The (purported) final chapter in the Susan Ryeland series finds the editor wrestling with a strange manuscript, an Atticus Pünd continuation penned by Eliot Crace, the grandson of the famed writer Miriam Crace, who claims not only that his grandmother was murdered, but that the secret lies buried inside his own book. A clever publicity ploy—or a trap waiting to snap shut? Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan return as Susan Ryeland and Atticus Pünd; Rebecca Gatward directs.
Last Seen
Apple TV, September 9
Literary bona fides: based on Ryan David Jahn’s The Dispatcher (2011)
As noted in our September streaming guide: Patrick Brammall leads this Australian thriller in which a police dispatcher gets a call from a young woman who sounds like his missing daughter, missing for 11 years, and must uncover the truth behind the disappearance.
The Perfect Lie
Netflix, September 10
Literary bona fides: based on The Dinner Club by Saskia Noort (2004, English tr. 2007)
In this Dutch drama series adapted from Noort’s bestseller, four wealthy and glamorous couples appear to have it all—until a mysterious fire kills one of them. As the investigation unfolds, Karen, the group’s newest member, starts tugging at loose ends, unraveling everything she thought she knew about her friends. The project has been pitched as Desperate Housewives written by Patricia Highsmith, which sounds enticing, and it’s planned as a first in a series, potentially your next obsession.
Neagley
Prime Video, September 16
Literary bona fides: based on the character created by Lee Child
Maria Sten, known for Miss Denmark Universe 2008 and the actor behind Reacher’s Frances Neagley, receives her own spin-off.
Practical Magic 2
In theaters, September 18
Literary bona fides: based on The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman (2021)
Nearly three decades after the original cult favorite and Lit Hub favorite, the Owens sisters, aunts, and nieces return to break the curse and conjure up some Millennial nostalgia. Will it be good? Probably not, but the cast will glow with a magical radiance that’s hard to hate.
The Master and Margarita
In theaters, September 18
Literary bona fides: based on The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (1967)
After a lengthy legal saga, Michael Lockshin’s adaptation of one of literature’s most revered works heads to the US after hitting Russia with strong responses in 2024. I remain hopeful for this anti-authoritarian fantasia, which has earned favorable reviews internationally, even though I personally find it notoriously difficult to film. The public clearly wants Behemoth on screen!
The Love Hypothesis
Prime Video, September 23
Literary bona fides: based on Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis (2021)
According to our September streaming guide: Tom Bateman and Lili Reinhart star in this adaptation of Hazelwood’s popular romance novel (which began as Star Wars fan fiction, if you’re curious). It looks pretty charming, to be fair.
My Sad Dead (Mis muertos tristes)
Netflix, September 24
Literary bona fides: based on Mariana Enriquez’s “My Sad Dead”
An intriguing horror miniseries directed by Pablo Larraín, in which a doctor who can hear the dead discovers that her niece shares this eerie gift. The adaptation draws from Enriquez’s 2023 story and multiple other works, with Enriquez co-writing the adaptation alongside Larraín, Guillermo Calderón, and Anastasia Ayazi.
The Final Problem
Netflix, September 25
Literary bona fides: based on The Final Problem by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (2023, English tr. 2026)
This limited series stands out for its literary pedigree: it adapts a best-selling Pérez-Reverte novel and channels Sherlock Holmes lore. Its premise follows a retired actor famous for portraying the famous detective who ends up solving a real mystery with a group of strangers on a remote island—one of them dies. A playful concept, and genuinely entertaining in tone.
OCTOBER:
East of Eden
Netflix, October 1
Literary bona fides: based on East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)
Zoe Kazan leads a limited series adaptation of Steinbeck’s classic, featuring Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames and a cast that includes several other high-profile names. Fun fact: Kazan’s grandfather Elia Kazan directed the 1955 movie. Will this version surpass the previous take?
Verity
In theaters, October 2
Literary bona fides: based on Verity by Colleen Hoover (2018)
Michael Showalter directs the latest Hoover adaptation (script by Nick Antosca), in which an unemployed writer (Dakota Johnson) is hired to complete the work of a bestselling but mysteriously paralyzed author (Anne Hathaway) and stumbles upon a manuscript that makes her question who she’s really working for. Josh Hartnett plays the husband, which says plenty about the tone.
Kill Jackie
Prime Video, October 2
Literary bona fides: based on The Price You Pay by Nick Harkaway as Aidan Truhen (2018)
Catherine Zeta-Jones takes on the role of Jackie Price, a gender-flipped art dealer with a checkered past, prompting the arrival of seven assassins who intend to finish the job. Her plan? Turn the tables and take them out first.
Carrie
Prime Video, October 7
Literary bona fides: based on Carrie by Stephen King (1974)
Mike Flanagan returns with a miniseries adaptation of Carrie, reimagined for a contemporary high school setting. Flanagan notes that the themes of kindness and cruelty, empathy and bullying—amplified by today’s tech-driven culture—are timely. If anyone can pull it off, it’s him.
Other Mommy
In theaters, October 9
Literary bona fides: based on Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman (2024)
Jessica Chastain plays both Mommy and Other Mommy in this tense horror adaptation, which centers on a disturbing premise. The genre crowd is excited, though the more cautious viewer may want to keep a safe distance.
Whalefall
In theaters, October 14
Literary bona fides: based on Whalefall by Daniel Kraus (2023)
Daniel Kraus co-wrote the screen adaptation of his own thriller about a young scuba diver who, while trying to locate his father, is swallowed by a sperm whale. Think of a blend of 127 Hours and Pinocchio. Brian Duffield directs the project.
Sense and Sensibility
In theaters, October 16
Literary bona fides: based on by Jane Austen (1811)
The first major Austen adaptation of the season, directed by Georgia Oakley from a script by Diana Reid, with Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood and Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne. Sense and Sensibility is somewhat less explored than Pride and Prejudice, but this iteration could offer something fresh—let’s see what they bring to the table.
La Bola Negra
In theaters, October 16 / Netflix, December 2
Literary bona fides: inspired by Federico García Lorca’s unfinished novel of the same name, and Alberto Conejero’s La piedra oscura
Directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (Los Javis) earned Cannes’ Best Director honor this year (shared with another entry on this list) for a queer epic inspired by Lorca’s unfinished text and Conejero’s play. “Let’s make the most audacious, openly gay war movie ever,” Ambrossi remarked in a Telluride Q&A. As for Lorca’s source material, Calvo noted its art as a tangible touchstone for understanding history and humanity—art that speaks even when times feel hostile. The project aims to remind us that art remains a potent, provocative language.
Klara and the Sun
In theaters, October 23
Literary bona fides: based on Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021)
Taika Waititi’s adaptation of Klara features a starry cast, including Jenna Ortega as the Artificial Friend Klara, with Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne among others. The trailer hints at a lighter tone, but Ishiguro’s book is a moving meditation on loss, time, and humanity, suggesting there may be more depth beneath the charming surface. Waititi has called it his most dramatic film to date, so there may be meaningful gravity beyond the whimsy.
Fatherland
Mubi, October 23
Literary bona fides: concerning the writer Thomas Mann
Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler portray Erika and Thomas Mann on a road trip across postwar Germany in Paweł Pawlikowski’s latest film, which earned him Best Director at Cannes. Beyond the prestige, the project has drawn strong praise; The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw called it a poised, elegant vignette that conveys both personal and historical pain with restraint and beauty.
Wicker
In theaters, October 23
Literary bona fides: based on “The Wicker Husband” by Ursula Wills (2008)
Olivia Colman stars as a foul-tempered, odoriferous medieval fisherwoman who weds a wicker man—yes, a man made of wicker—and the town reels from their unusual union. Alexander Skarsgård plays the wicker partner, with Peter Dinklage as the master weaver who crafts her ideal mate, Richard E. Grant as the town doctor, and a wryly suggestive tagline: “a hard man is good to find.” The premise promises a film that could be as unsettling as it is captivating. And yes, I admit I now want some baskets around the house.
Wildwood
In theaters, October 23
Literary bona fides: based on Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis (2011)
Laika returns with the stop-motion epic Wildwood, long in development, and the studio’s bold ambition is once again on full display. Director Travis Knight describes the production as an extraordinary undertaking that required new tools and telltale craftsmanship to do justice to the source. With Laika’s track record of Oscar-nominated efforts, expectations are high for a breakthrough in this adaptation.
Nocturne
Apple TV, October 30
Literary bona fides: based on The Sandman and Lazarus by Lars Kepler (2012, 2018)
Liev Schreiber leads as Jonah Lynn, a former homicide detective who relocates to a Pennsylvania town plagued by a ruthless serial killer, Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham). With Walter behind bars, Jonah must enlist Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz) to coax the killer into talking before time runs out. A tense, atmospheric thriller grounded in popular psychological-procedural storytelling.
The Mosquito Bowl
In theaters, October 30 / Netflix, November 25
Literary bona fides: based on The Mosquito Bowl by Buzz Bissinger (2022)
Peter Berg returns to a Buzz Bissinger project that dramatizes the famous Guadalcanal football game between Marine regiments—featuring many future stars of the sport. The film (and later Netflix release) stars Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård, Ray Nicholson, and Tom Francis, presenting a wartime athletic showdown with cinematic gusto.
Yaga
AMC+, October TBA
Literary bona fides: based on Yaga by Kat Sandler (2019)
Canadian playwright Kat Sandler has transformed her 2019 Baba Yaga legend into a television series for Crave, the same platform that brought us Heated Rivalry. The cast includes Hudson Williams, Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid, and Clark Backo. It looks delightfully deranged; I’m here for it.
NOVEMBER:
The Good Daughter
Peacock, November 12
Literary bona fides: based on The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter (2017)
In Karin Slaughter’s adaptation of her own instant New York Times bestseller, Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy star as sisters whose lives were upended by violence years earlier and who must confront the same danger again. Brendan Gleeson also features, which is typically a good sign for a project.
Victorian Psycho
In theaters, November 13
Literary bona fides: based on Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (2025)
From the look of it, Feito’s dark humor translates well to the screen, and she also wrote the screenplay herself. Zachary Wigon directs, with Maika Monroe portraying Winifred Notty, a governess who can’t quite escape the label of being a bit unhinged in this irreverent, gory horror.
Ebenezer
In theaters, November 13
Literary bona fides: based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)
This entry is notable for its provocative premise rather than a wholehearted endorsement: a revisionist take on Scrooge, suggesting he might not be the one-dimensional villain we were led to believe. Johnny Depp headlines this version, which aims to present a more nuanced case for the infamous miser in a 2026 setting. The director emphasizes exploring a broader moral ambiguity rather than a simple moral tale. It’s the familiar tale you know—but with a controversial new lens. A bold wager, perhaps.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
In theaters, November 20
Literary bona fides: based on Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (2025)
Suzanne Collins continues to expand the franchise with another prequel, this time drawing from philosopher David Hume. The premise promises a blend of political intrigue and survival drama—an expansion that fans are eagerly anticipating, even if the literary basis is a bit unconventional.
Blade Runner 2099
Prime Video, November 25
Literary bona fides: based on characters from Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)
Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer headline Silka Luisa’s miniseries extension, set half a century after the events of Blade Runner 2049. In this future, Replicants predominate and humans occupy the lower rungs of society, offering what could be the franchise’s most grounded, potentially provocative, vision yet.
DECEMBER:
Clarissa
In theaters, December 11
Literary bona fides: based on Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)
A fresh adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s work, this time recast in a contemporary Lagos setting. Directed and produced by Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri, the film features Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa, with a supporting cast including David Oyelowo, India Amarteifio, Toheeb Jimoh, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Ayo Edebiri. Visually, it promises to be stunning, and early impressions are encouraging. I’m excited to see this one unfold.
Ink
In theaters, December 11
Literary bona fides: based on Ink by James Graham (2017)
Guy Pearce embodies Rupert Murdoch with Jack O’Connell as Larry Lamb in this drama about Murdoch’s 1969 takeover of Britain’s tabloid The Sun and the upheavals that followed. The movie frames this transition as a flamboyant caper, in which Murdoch persuades Lamb to a Faustian deal that gradually eclipses his boss in ruthless ambition. Danny Boyle directs from Graham’s screenplay adaptation, delivering a visually dynamic, anti-establishment-tinged experience.
Dune: Part Three
In theaters, December 18
Literary bona fides: based on Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert (1969)
Finally arriving with even more of the saga, this instalment continues the epic scale and grand scheming of Herbert’s universe, promising a climactic culmination to the sprawling adaptation.
ALSO EXPECTED:
Pride and Prejudice
Netflix, Fall 2026
Literary bona fides: based on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
Though a precise release date remains unconfirmed, the six-part adaptation of Austen’s beloved novel is generating serious anticipation. Emma Corrin headlines as Elizabeth Bennet, with Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy; the casting also features Olivia Colman and Rufus Sewell as Mrs. and Mr. Bennet. Euros Lyn (known for Heartstopper) directs, and fans are lining up to see how this version will stand apart.
Unaccustomed Earth
Netflix, Fall 2026
Literary bona fides: based on Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (2008)
Although a trailer or on-set images haven’t surfaced yet, Netflix confirms that Madhuri Shekar’s series adaptation of Lahiri’s acclaimed short story collection will unfold as an expansive, soap-opera drama about an immigrant community navigating love, desire, and belonging. When a star-crossed romance between a devoted wife (Freida Pinto) and her long-lost love (Siddharth) becomes public, a scandal erupts and new divisions arise within Cambridge’s insular Indian American community. I’m listening.
