Several fan-favorite books, such as Swan’s Song by Robert McCammon and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, have on-screen adaptations in the works, but they will require audiences to wait. The process of bringing novels, especially genre fiction like sci-fi and fantasy, to the screen is long and expensive.
Luckily, we aren’t without exciting adaptations this year. These six TV shows and movies based on books coming out in 2026 will bring entertaining stories to life with the help of impressive casts and creative teams. You won’t want to miss any of them.
6
Scarpetta
The forensic thriller genre has been lacking since Bones went off the air, but it’s about to have a revival with Prime Video’s adaptation of the Kay Scarpetta books by Patricia Cornwell. The story follows the titular chief medical examiner, played by Nicole Kidman, who uses forensic science to solve crimes, with the help of her older sister, Dorothy, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Kay Scarpetta will start out trying to unmask a serial killer whose crimes have mysterious similarities to one of her old cases. The series will weave together flashbacks from the 1990s case with scenes from the present-day case. Scarpetta’s unique format means the story can adapt multiple books at once. With 29 books, the show could last at least 14 seasons with this format.
While there are no guarantees it will last that long, viewers can at least invest in the characters and storylines without concern about the show getting unceremoniously cancelled after one season. Scarpetta received a two-season order to start with. If the cast is any indication of the quality, we’ll be in for a great ride.
The show is packed with top-notch actors who have proven that they can command a story. Nicole Kidman is joined by Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, and Ariana DeBose. The trailer shows Kidman and Curtis together, and they already seem to have a great dynamic.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, which has affectionately been nicknamed “that octopus book,” defied all expectations when it became a New York Times Bestseller multiple times through primarily positive word-of-mouth. Unlike most popular fiction, the novel is quiet and pensive. Now, four years after the book’s release, the story is coming to Netflix as a movie.
The story follows the unlikely relationships between a 70-year-old widow named Tova, a troubled man in his 30s named Cameron, and a Great Pacific Octopus named Marcellus, who has extranormal abilities. Each character comes to the story with their own unresolved trauma. In an act of love, Marcellus decides help his new friends get closure for their respective losses.
Because the book is heavily character-driven, Remarkably Bright Creatures’s casting could make or break the film. What’s more, Cameron is an intentionally unlikable character whom we have to care about, which is a difficult dichotomy for an actor to navigate. Luckily, the Netflix movie brought together the perfect duo: Oscar-winner Sally Field and Emmy-nominee Lewis Pullman.
Field perfectly fits the description of Tova, and her past roles share the same vulnerability and earnestness. What’s more, Pullman might be best-known for his roles in genre movies like Top Gun: Maverick and Thunderbolts*, but he has also given phenomenal dramatic performances more in line with Remarkably Bright Creatures. With these two onboard, Remarkably Bright Creatures is shaping up to be just as impactful as the book.
4
Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a beloved hard sci-fi book, and fans have been begging for an onscreen adaptation for the past five years. Luckily, the story will soon hit the big screen in IMAX 70mm, IMAX digital, Dolby cinema, ScreenX, D-Box, 4DX, and Cinemark XD.
The story follows a science teacher named Ryland Grace who wakes up in an interstellar spaceship, not knowing who he is or how he got there. Over time, he remembers that he is the last hope of figuring out how to stop the mysterious substance that’s killing the sun. To preserve the surprises, I will refrain from sharing any further plot details.
The movie has already been lauded in early reviews for its breathtaking visuals. The eye-catching, split-complementary palette in the trailer leans into beautiful greens and oranges, giving the movie a grounded, Earthy feeling despite its outer space setting. If early reviews of Project Hail Mary are correct, the movie could beat out 2001: A Space Odyssey for the best sci-fi movie visuals of all time.
What’s more, Project Hail Mary won’t be hindered by its inaccessible concept – saving the entire solar system – and its hard science. The book captures the deeply human desires and fears that Ryland Grace experiences, making it universally relatable. Considering Andy Weir said he “couldn’t be happier with how things turned out,” the movie undoubtedly captures that same feeling.
3
The Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of the fundamental epic poems, and it holds a special place in the hearts of readers everywhere. The story follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca and a soldier from the Trojan War, on his 10-year voyage home to his wife and son. Many adaptations of The Odyssey exist, and the most recent is Christopher Nolan’s epic 3+ hour movie.
Let’s get one perfunctory thing out of the way: the costumes are visually underwhelming and historically inaccurate. Now that we’ve acknowledged that, let’s get into the reasons to get excited about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
The Odyssey is an incredibly long and dense story that would not fit into a traditional two-hour movie. The upcoming film’s long runtime means it can cover more of the book’s exciting events. I’m personally hoping that we will get to see Scylla and Charybdis. Luckily, it’s confirmed that the 2026 movie will also include at least some gods and monsters.
The production team built a giant Polphemus puppet for the scenes with the iconic cyclops (via MovieWeb). Additionally, Zendaya will play the goddess Athena. Charlize Theron is rumored to play Circe. Plus, most of the major human characters have been cast, and 18 actors have unnamed roles. Some of the other actors in The Odyssey must play gods and the nymph Calypso.
On top of all that, I’m confident that Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson will be able to create a score that matches the scope of The Odyssey. He has proven himself capable with Black Panther, Sinners, The Mandalorian, and Oppenheimer. Göransson excels at creating larger-than-life music that builds tension and a feeling of adventure.
2
Imperfect Women
Psychological thrillers are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, with many books being adapted for the screen. One of the most exciting upcoming shows in that genre is Apple TV’s Imperfect Women, based on the book by Araminta Hall. The show will star Scandal’s Kerry Washington, Handmaid’s Tale’s Elisabeth Moss, and Fantastic Four’s Kate Mara – three powerhouse actors who command the screen.
In the story, Nancy (Mara), Eleanor (Washington), and Mary (Moss) are best friends who seem to have it all together, but their lives are torn apart when Nancy turns up dead. The murder investigation will bring to life terrifying secrets and betrayals that test their bonds and expose their imperfections.
Apple TV has gained a reputation for prioritizing quality over quantity across all genres, making it the perfect platform to adapt this complex and twisty story. Most shows they put out become hits, so there’s a strong chance that this adaptation will be just as good as the book. Imperfect Women will grow their catalog of great thrillers and mysteries.
Moreover, the creator Annie Weisman has a strong track record for creating excellent dramatic TV shows with strong tension and plenty of twists. She wrote and produced Hulu’s hit religious cult series The Path and Freeform’s underrated gem Almost Family.
1
Cape Fear
The 1957 hit thriller novel The Executioners by John D. MacDonald will get another onscreen adaptation titled Cape Fear. The show will follow a married couple named Sam and Anna Bowden, who are tormented by a killer named Max Cady. The murderer got out of jail with a burning desire to get revenge against Sam Bowden, the man who put him in jail.
Previously, filmmakers J. Lee Thompson and Martin Scorsese brought The Executioners to life in movie format in 1962 and 1991, respectively. Both films were well-received and succeeded at the box office. However, this will be the first time that the story comes to life in a longer format.
The Apple TV+ miniseries will last 10 episodes, allowing the show to include some of the events cut to condense the story into 2 hours. We will have more time to understand the internal fears of Sam and Anna, rather than just focusing on the events.
Additionally, the Cape Fear series will be a collaboration between two of the most brilliant filmmakers of our time, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. The two long-time friends and collaborators are co-executive producing the series. Their work together is particularly exciting because they’ve both, individually, made groundbreaking thrillers. Their collaboration can only lead Cape Fear to greatness.