Some of the best movies and TV shows trace back to a stellar book or novel series, and that continues to be the norm in Hollywood. There has been a slew of popular movies in recent years that are based on books, and 2023 is no exception. There are so many books that are getting the on-screen treatment in the next year which means there's time to read the stories before seeing them on screen.
From classic adventure novels to contemporary romantic comedies, many stories are on their way to the screen in the form of Apple TV+, Amazon, and even traditional movie theaters. Some old and some new, these are the latest adaptations that bookworms and cinephiles should look out for.
The Last Thing He Told Me By Laura Dave - April 14, 2023
Published in 2021, fans of thrillers devoured The Last Thing He Told Me following its release. The popularity of the novel caught the interest of actress Reese Witherspoon, who snapped up the screen rights with her production company Hello Sunshine. The novel is being adapted for a limited series on Apple TV+ with Jennifer Garner in the lead role, which is sure to bring a lot of eyeballs to the series.
The story itself follows a woman and her daughter who reevaluate what they know about their family life when her husband suddenly disappears. She finds herself wondering if she ever really knew him at all.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret By Judy Blume - April 28, 2023
Judy Blume is one of the most popular children and young adult authors of the 1970s. Her books are perfect to be adapted into movies. And yet, she hasn't had one of her stories aimed at children adapted for the screen until this year. First published in 1970, Blume's young adult novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is hitting the big screen.
Abby Ryder Fortson (who Marvel fans will know as Scott Lang's daughter in the Ant-Man movies) will play the title role of Margaret Simon, a 6th grader who has just moved to a new state with her family. The story follows Margaret as she begins to question her religion since her parents are of two different faiths. The movie is being distributed by Lionsgate and, after a few delays, is set to hit theaters on April 28.
American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer By Kai Bird And Martin J. Sherwin - July 21, 2023
While most of the movies being adapted from books right now come from novels as their source material, Oppenheimer comes from a nonfiction account instead. Christopher Nolan is bringing the story of the father of the atomic bomb to the screen, but he’s using a 700+ page nonfiction book as his starting part.
Cillian Murphy takes on the titular role for Nolan, and the movie itself is filled with an impressive supporting cast. With Nolan at the helm, and Murphy in the lead, there’s also Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., and Florence Pugh. There’s already early awards show talk for the cast.
Hallowe’en Party By Agatha Christie - September 15, 2023
Movie fans might not recognize this book title, but mystery fans will. Agatha Christie is one of the most prolific mystery writers to ever craft a story. Her novels have been adapted into movies and television series for years. Most recently, her stories have been part of Kenneth Branagh’s movies as he’s starred as the detective Hercule Poirot in two movies already. A Haunting In Venice will be adapted from Hallowe’en Party, again with Branagh as Poirot.
The story will see Poirot invited to a Halloween party at a supposedly haunted Italian home when he ends up investigating a murder. Like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express before it, A Haunting In Venice will feature a large ensemble cast to tell its story. Slated to appear are Tina Fey, Ali Khan, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Kelly Reilly, Emma Laird, and more.
The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes By Suzanne Collins - November 17, 2023
There’s no question that the Hunger Games franchise has become a hugely successful one. Beyond the movies themselves, the original books have fascinated teens and adults alike with their take on the trajectory of society. The social commentary surrounding a society that has teenagers fighting for the sacrifices made by the previous generation is just as relevant today as it was when the Hunger Games novel was first published.
Suzanne Collins, understanding that there’s more story to tell since her original stories focused on a single chapter in the world she created, wrote a prequel novel that was fairly immediately optioned for the screen. The novel will focus on the villain of her original trilogy, Coriolanus Snow, in what are only the 10th Hunger Games. While he’s not the character most fans might have been clamoring to learn more about, his story will help flesh out the expansive world already fresh in fans’ minds.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory By Roald Dahl - December 15, 2023
Roald Dahl’s novel was originally published in 1964, and it’s seen two very different adaptations hit the big screen already. This new adaptation, Wonka, isn’t a straight-up movie based on a book. Instead, it’s a prequel to Dahl’s original story.
Timothée Chalamet stars as the titular Wonka, and the movie is set to tell the story of how Wonka becomes the candy man audiences have already seen in the past. Like the previous versions of Wonka’s story, music will play a big role in the movie as Chalamet has recorded songs for the musical sequences. Outside of that, however, there aren’t many details known about the plot of the movie.
Killers Of The Flower Moon: The Osage Murders And The Birth Of The FBI By David Gran - 2023
The original book is inspired by a series of murders that occurred in the Osage Nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s. Killers Of The Flower Moon's real story saw the FBI send investigators to track down the murderer, though what happened actually revealed a larger conspiracy. Osage Nation members were murdered as the result of those profiting off the oil found on the land wanting to eliminate the obstacles in their way - the rightful owners of the land.
In development by Martin Scorsese since 2016, the movie stars frequent Scorsese collaborators Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in the role of the primary antagonist. Jesse Plemons stars as the FBI agent investigating the crimes. Brendan Fraser, in a return to big-budget movies, plays lawyer W.S. Hamilton. While there’s no definite release date for Killers Of The Flower Moon, it’s expected to make the film festival circuit in 2023. Once it makes its film festival premiere, the movie will be released on Apple TV+.
Red, White, And Royal Blue By Casey McQuiston - 2023
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston was first published in May 2019 and became an overnight sensation. It debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List in June and continued to take off from there, winning several fan-voted book awards like 2019's Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Romance and Best Debut.
Prior to the release of the novel, Amazon Studios won the film rights in a highly competitive option. The movie which is set to release sometime this year is being produced by Berlanti Productions with Matthew Lopez being tasked with bringing the epic love story between the First Son of the United States and the Prince of Wales to screen.
The Kiss Quotient By Helen Hoang - 2023
First published in June 2018, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang became a hit earning Hoang her first New York Times Best Seller title. The book centers on Stella Lane, an autistic econometrician who is tired of being bad at love. To get better at intimacy and relationships, Stella hires Michael, a professional escort, who is tasked with fake dating her to show her relationships aren't as scary as they seem.
Lionsgate quickly acquired the movie rights to the book and put the story into development. Savion Einstein has been tapped to write the movie adaptation with fans hoping they'll see this steamy romance on the big screen sometime next year.