From Pages to Film: The 2026 Adaptations We’re Watching — and the Books We’re Still Dreaming About
Editing a screenplay adapted from a novel
Book-to-film adaptations remain one of culture’s most enduring conversations — not because they promise spectacle, but because they ask something harder: Can cinema carry the emotional intelligence of a great novel?
As studios continue to return to literature for stories with depth, intimacy, and built-in readerships, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for adaptations both confirmed and hoped-for. From projects already in development to novels readers are quietly championing for the screen, this guide explores the books shaping the future of film — and why their journeys from page to screen matter now more than ever.
On set of a literary film adaptation
From Page to Screen: The 2026 Adaptations in Motion
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue remains one of the most anticipated book-to-film adaptations in development. V.E. Schwab’s genre-blending novel — a meditation on memory, love, and what it means to be remembered — has been officially optioned, with the author attached as a producer.
As explored in our review of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, the novel’s power lies in restraint rather than spectacle. Any successful adaptation will need to trust mood, pacing, and emotional quiet — a challenge, but also an opportunity to create something enduring rather than immediate.
Broken Country
Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country is the kind of novel that translates through atmosphere rather than exposition. Film rights have been acquired by Sony’s 3000 Pictures in partnership with Hello Sunshine, signaling confidence in its character-driven storytelling.
In our review of Broken Country, we noted how the story unfolds through consequence, silence, and emotional accumulation — elements that often thrive on screen when filmmakers resist excess. Its trajectory suggests a prestige adaptation aligned with the 2026 cinematic landscape.
Some cities remember everything. Others refuse to forget
The Nightingale
Though its release timeline has shifted, The Nightingale remains one of the most culturally anticipated literary adaptations. Kristin Hannah’s novel, set in Nazi-occupied France, centers female resistance and moral courage with emotional clarity rather than sentimentality.
The continued momentum behind the project reflects something important: audiences are still seeking historical stories that prioritize women’s interior lives. When it arrives, The Nightingale has the potential to become not just a successful adaptation, but a cultural touchstone.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo remains firmly in development — and firmly in the cultural conversation. Officially optioned, the novel’s enduring appeal lies in its layered examination of fame, secrecy, and desire.
Its glamour is surface-level; its emotional intelligence is not. If the adaptation honors what readers love most — the private cost of public lives — Evelyn Hugo could become one of the defining modern book-to-film adaptations of the decade.
Books We Hope Become Films
Books becoming movies in modern cinema
The Bastard of Istanbul
Elif Shafak’s The Bastard of Istanbul feels increasingly urgent in a film landscape ready to engage layered histories with nuance. Spanning generations and geographies, the novel interrogates identity, diaspora, and inherited silence with remarkable emotional precision.
Its richness lies in complexity — exactly what thoughtful adaptations should protect rather than simplify. In the right hands, this story could expand what global literary cinema looks like.
The Names
There is a quiet devastation to The Names that feels inherently cinematic. Its exploration of identity, language, and moral fracture would thrive on performance and restraint — the kind of film that trusts audiences to lean in rather than be instructed.
This is a story that wouldn’t need scale to make impact. It would need attention.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea
With its dual timelines and wartime emotional core, The Secret Book of Flora Lea already feels visually imagined.
As discussed in our review of The Secret Book of Flora Lea, its strength lies in intimacy rather than spectacle — a quality that often defines the most lasting adaptations.
The End of Drum-Time
Hanna Pylväinen’s The End of Drum-Time challenges rather than comforts — which is precisely why it matters. Set among Sámi communities in 19th-century Sweden, the novel examines faith, tradition, and colonial pressure with rare nuance.
As explored in our review of The End of Drum-Time, any adaptation would need to prioritize cultural integrity over accessibility. Done right, it could expand the cinematic canon rather than repeat it.
Why Literary Adaptations Still Matter
At She The King, we don’t see film adaptations as replacements for books — we see them as cultural extensions. When handled with care, they invite new readers, deepen conversations, and allow stories to live beyond the page. As 2026 approaches, these adaptations — confirmed, developing, and still hoped for — remind us that the most enduring films begin exactly where they should: with stories worth returning to.
FAQs
Which books are being adapted into films in 2026?
Several high-profile novels are in development for film adaptations expected in or around 2026, including The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Broken Country. While not all projects have confirmed release dates, each has secured film rights and remains active in development.
Is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue becoming a movie?
Yes. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab has been officially optioned for film, with Schwab attached as a producer. While a release date has not yet been announced, the project remains in active development.
Has Broken Country been optioned for film?
Yes. Film rights to Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall have been acquired by Sony’s 3000 Pictures in partnership with Hello Sunshine. Casting and release details have not yet been confirmed.
Is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo being adapted for film?
Yes. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid has been officially optioned and remains one of the most anticipated contemporary literary adaptations currently in development.
What books would make great film adaptations?
Books with strong emotional arcs, immersive settings, and character-driven narratives often translate well to film. Titles such as The Secret Book of Flora Lea, The End of Drum-Time, and The Bastard of Istanbul offer particularly rich cinematic potential.
Why are so many films based on books?
Studios adapt books because they offer proven storytelling, built-in audiences, and layered character development. For readers, thoughtful adaptations can expand a story’s cultural reach without replacing the original work.
Where can I find reviews of books becoming films?
You can explore in-depth reviews and literary commentary in She The King’s Books section, where we examine novels shaping culture long before they reach the screen.