Look forward to watching these best-selling stories on the TV or movie screen this year.
Bookworms, prepare yourselves! A library of stories has headed to the big screen and streaming in 2023. While we love letting our imaginations run wild as we turn pages (or swipe pages, depending on our book format of choice), it's thrilling to see our favorite stories from literature transposed onto the screen.
One of the most anticipated films of the year, which comes to theaters this Friday, October 20, is Killers of the Flower Moon. Adapted from the novel of the same name, the movie is based on the devastating and true tale of the Osage murders and the creation of the FBI. Martin Scorsese directed the movie adaptation, bringing an immensely talented cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brendan Fraser and Robert De Niro. Read the true story that feels like a thriller, then see the star-studded film.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Journalist David Grann explores the sinister truth behind the deaths and disappearances of several Osage citizens in 1920s Oklahoma and how the mystery led to the creation of the FBI. The Martin Scorsese-directed film is now streaming on Apple TV+.
It doesn't stop there. Many of your required readings from school are getting a makeover, with classics like The Color Purple and Dune are being reimagined for the silver screen. Watch as Celie's troubled life is transformed into a musical for a new generation and see the sand-covered planet of Arrakis outside of your own imagination. It's not just the oldies you can see transformed into a different medium. New favorites like Black Cake and Uglies will debut on streaming this year and feature some of our favorite stars, including Laverne Cox.
It's time to call an emergency book club meeting because we've rounded all the books you'll want to peruse that are coming to life this year. If you want to be in the camp that decides whether the on-screen version lives up to the book, check out these celebrated titles in a hurry. Bragging rights are on the line.
Below, check out all the books being transformed into movies and television series this year and find out where and when you can start watching your favorite literary characters come to life.
Books Coming to the Big Screen
How will you discern that the book is better than the adaptation if you haven't read it yet? Below, check these stories out for yourself.
Oppenheimer
The hit movie Oppenheimer is based on American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The award-winning film will land on Peacock in mid-February.
The Color Purple
Written in 1982, The Color Purple is a now-classic novel that was quickly adapted into a movie directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover. Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey and a truly amazing cast brought the musical version of this story to the screen.
Dracula
The film The Last Voyage of Demeter, which was in theaters this August and is now available to stream, is based on the classic novel Dracula.
Dune: Part 2
Return to the sand-covered planet of Arrakis outside of your own imagination when Dune: Part Two hits theaters. Until then, watch the first film on Max.
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
The beloved Broadway musical Wicked is based on a best-selling book by Gregory Maguire. The musical, which is coming to the big screen in November, stars Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh.
Harold and the Purple Crayon
With an all-star cast including Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel and Lil Rel Howery, you can expect big things from the movie adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon. The theatrical release date has been pushed back a few times, with a current date of August 2, 2024.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Hunger Games fans won't want to miss this one. Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has been in production and will premiere in theaters on November 17.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a coming-of-age story about two teen boys in El Paso, Texas and their journey to self-discovery. The movie produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
Books Coming to Television and Streaming
Read your favorites below, then enjoy these stories again when they're transposed onto the small screen.
Meet Me at the Lake
Carley Fortune's best-selling romance novel Meet Me at the Lake, which Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are adapting for Netflix. In the book, Fern's life was once full of potential, but now she's back home running her mom's lakeside resort, which she never wanted to do. Her life is turned upside down when a man from her past shows up offering to help.
Black Cake: A Novel
A New York Times bestseller, Black Cake: A Novel is the story of estranged siblings coming back together after their mother's death to learn jaw-dropping details about their family's history. Produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films, a Black Cake adaptation is coming to Hulu in November.
Turtles All The Way Down
John Green's novel was picked up to be adapted soon after it published in 2017. Turtles All the Way Down will premiere on Max, but as of this time no date has been set.
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
While the date has yet to be released, Netflix has confirmed a third season of Bridgerton. If you can't wait, catch up on the story by reading the third book in the series: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.
All the Light We Cannot See
Taking place during WWII, the beautifully written book All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr explores the lives of two young teens navigating tumultuous times. Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo will star in the four-episode mini-series that will be released on Netflix in early November.
Uglies
Upon her 16th birthday, Tally will have surgery to become a "pretty," after which all she has to do for the rest of her life is have fun. But is it really going to be the paradise she's been promised? Scott Westerfeld's New York Times best-selling series is coming to Netflix sometime in 2023 or 2024 and stars big names, including Joey King and Laverne Cox.
2023 Book Adaptations Streaming Now
Here are the books that you can currently enjoy in a new video medium.
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales
Edgar Allen Poe's chilling stories from The Fall of the House of Usher have been modernized for Netflix and are streaming now—just in time for Halloween.
Lessons in Chemistry
In a story that takes place in the 1960s, a profound chemist-turned-cooking-show-host helps female viewers realize they can change the status quo in the book Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. The book has been transformed into a drama series streaming now on Apple TV+ starring Brie Larson.
The Changeling: A Novel
Horror fans will enjoy this dark novel about magic, mystery and loss. The series also titled The Changeling is streaming on Apple TV+ and stars LaKeith Stanfield.
Daisy Jones & the Six
This Amazon Prime Video mini-series finds inspiration from the book Daisy Jones & the Six written by author Taylor Jenkins Reid. The story centers around a fictional band in the '70s that becomes a global sensation.
Wool
One of Apple TV+'s greatest sci-fi series of the year so far, Silo is based on the book Wool: a post-apocalyptic story written by Hugh Howey. In the story, a community is forced to live in a silo for their own protection. But what happens when members want to see the world outside? Find out by reading the book and streaming the first season.
American Born Chinese
Jin Wang is the only Chinese-American at his school, but when a new student arrives, both their worlds are forever changed in the graphic novel American Born Chinese. The thought-provoking story is now streaming on Disney+ and stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu who all recently worked together in the award-winning film Everything, Everywhere All At Once.
The Last Thing He Told Me
When a women's husband disappears, she must work with her teenage stepdaughter to find him in the Apple TV+ show premiering April 14 starring Jennifer Garner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Angourie Rice. It's based on the book The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.
Tiny Beautiful Things
Author of the New York Times best-selling book Wild, Cheryl Strayed has another novel being adapted for the screen: Tiny Beautiful Things. Now streaming on Hulu, the story follows an advice columnist whose own life is falling apart.
Shadow and Bone
A second season of Netflix's Shadow and Bone series was released on March 16. Based on the book series by the same name, this season will follow along with the second book written by Leigh Bardugo: Siege and Storm.
City on Fire
Apple TV+ released City on Fire this May, a gritty saga about love, betrayal and rock and roll set in the early 2000s. The show is inspired by the book by Garth Risk Hallberg.
Will Trent
Detective Will Trent struggles with his difficult past, but he can solve any crime that comes his way on the hit ABC show, Will Trent, which streams now on Hulu. The show is based on the Will Trent book series by Karin Slaughter and begins with the novel Triptych.
The Power
Based on the book written by Naomi Alderman, the complete first season of The Power is now streaming on Prime Video. Starring Toni Collette and Toheeb Jimoh from Ted Lasso, the story explores what would happen if teenage girls were suddenly given special powers that allowed them to electrocute people.
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