2018 seems to the be the year of adapting novels, and there’s plenty of novels being adapted into television shows. There’s a great mix of genres for you to check out the original material before the series comes out!
From Castle Rock, which is based on various novels by Stephen King, to Murder Games by James Patterson with The Good Wife’s Alan Cumming at the forefront of the series. Then there’s the best-selling magical trilogy by Deborah Harkness and Gillian Flynn is receiving another adaptation after Gone Girl and Dark Places.
Read on to discover what books are being adapted and tell us in the comments below what you’re looking forward to!
The Alienist
January 22 / TNT / TRAILER
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Crime reporter John Moore, meets with psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, to investigate a serial killer in New York during the late 19th century. Starring Daniel Brühl (Rush), Dakota Fanning (The Runaways), and Luke Evans (Beauty and The Beast 2017).
Altered Carbon
February 2 / Netflix
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
An intriguing story of murder, love, sex, and betrayal, set more than 300 years in the future. Society has been transformed by new technology: consciousness can be digitized; human bodies are interchangeable; death is no longer permanent. Starring Joel Kinnaman (The Killing), Hiro Kanagawa (The Man In The High Castle), Jame Purefoy (The Following), Kristin Lehman (The Killing), and Chris Conner (American Crime Story).
The Looming Tower
February 28 / Hulu / TRAILER
The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright
Tracing the rising threat of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, it takes a controversial look at how the rivalry between the CIA and FBI inadvertently might have set the stage for the tragedy of 9/11 and the war in Iraq. Starring Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom), Peter Sarsgaard (The Killing), and Tahar Rahim (The Last Panthers).
Instinct
March 11 / CBS
Murder Games by James Patterson
Dr Dylan Reinhart is a gifted author and university professor. As he is also a former CIA operative, he is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial. Starring Alan Cumming (The Good Wife), Bojana Novakovic (Satisfaction), Michael B. Silver (Suits), Naveen Andrews (Sense8) and Whoopi Goldberg.
Rise
March 13 / NBC / TRAILER
Drama High by Michael Sokolove
Inspired by a true story, a dedicated teacher and family man Lou Mazzuchelli sheds his own self-doubt and takes over the school’s lacklustre theatre department, he galvanises not only the faculty and students but the entire working-class town. Starring Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Marley Shelton (The Lottery), Rarmian Newton (The Family), and Auli’i Cravalho (Moana).
The Terror
March 26 / AMC
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The crew of a Royal Naval expedition searching for the Arctic’s treacherous Northwest Passage discovers instead a monstrous predator. Starring Jared Harris (The Crown), Ciarán Hinds (The Woman In Black), and Tobias Menzies (Reign).
Sharp Objects
June / HBO
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Camille Preaker, a reporter, returns to her small hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. Trying to put together a psychological puzzle from her past, she finds herself identifying with the young victims a bit too closely. Starring Amy Adams (Man of Steel), Patricia Clarkson (Maze Runner), Chris Messina (The Mindy Project), and Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds).
A Discovery of Witches
2018 / Sky One
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Follows a history professor who is a powerful witch at Oxford named Diana who’s trying to suppress her magic until she meets Matthew Clairmont, a handsome geneticist and mysterious vampire. The pair begin developing their relationship while investigating a strange manuscript found in the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Starring Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four), Matthew Goode (The Good Wife), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), Valarie Pettiford (The Blacklist), Lindsey Duncan (The Leftovers), and Edward Bluemel (House Finch).
Good Omens
2018 / Amazon
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Follows an angel and a demon who team up to stop the apocalypse along with an 11-year-old Antichrist and a doom-saying witch. Starring David Tennant (Doctor Who), Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), and Adria Arjona (Emerald City).
Castle Rock
2018 / Hulu
Based on several novels by Stephen King
The anthology series will intertwine characters and themes from the fictional town of Castle Rock. Starring André Holland (Moonlight), Melanie Lynskey (Togetherness), Bill Skarsgård (IT 2017), Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Terry O’Quinn (The Blacklist: Redemption), and Scott Glenn (The Defenders).
You
2018 / Lifetime
You by Caroline Kepnes
A clever bookstore manager relies on his savvy Internet know-how to make the woman of his dreams fall in love with him. Starring Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl), Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars), and Elizabeth Lail (Once Upon A Time).
Melrose
2018 / Showtime + Sky
Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St. Aubyn
Follows the character of Patrick Melrose, who makes a harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, toward recovery. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Holliday Grainger (Cinderella 2015), and Jessica Raine (Call The Midwife).
Sweetbitter
2018 / STARZ
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
22-year-old Tess arrives in New York City and lands a job at a celebrated downtown restaurant. Swiftly introduced to the world of drugs, alcohol, love, lust, dive bars and fine dining, she learns to navigate the chaotically alluring yet punishing life she has stumbled upon.
Dietland
2018 / AMC
Dietland by Sarai Walker
A look at society’s obsession with weight loss and fashion as seen through the eyes of those who work in the beauty industry. Starring Joy Nash and Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife).
