We’ve already looked at some exciting upcoming book-to-movie adaptations, so here are the book-to-TV transitions we are also looking forward to…
5. War of the Worlds
We’re all familiar with The War of the Worlds, but the new TV version in the works sounds worthwhile as it promises to be closer to HG Wells’ original novel. Victorians vs Martians? Yes, please! It will be written by Peter Harness, who proved himself a great fit for the material with his Doctor Who two-parter ‘The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion’ and his Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell series.
4. Good Omens
Terry Pratchett’s books were phenomenally successful but there still haven’t been that many adaptations of the late, great man’s work. Enter Good Omens, a TV series based on the novel Pratchett wrote with Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is bringing the book to the screen, which is basically a very funny take on the apocalypse. The main characters are Angel/Demon double-act Aziraphale and Crowley – here are some suggestions for who could play them.
3. A Series of Unfortunate Events
2004’s A Series of Unfortunate Events was an enjoyable take on Lemony Snicket’s brilliantly quirky book series, but it wasn’t the perfect translation. Thankfully, Netflix are making a new 13-part TV show around it. Neil Patrick Harris will replace the movie’s Jim Carrey as master villain Count Olaf, while the Baudelaire children will be played by Supergirl‘s Malina Weissman and newcomer Louis Hynes. Plus, Patrick Warburton is Lemony Snicket himself (great casting!).
2. His Dark Materials
Another book that had an even worse movie adaptation is Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, which was previously brought to the screen in The Golden Compass (starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig). A new BBC TV series – made by the production team that do Doctor Who – will hopefully stay closer to the books. Don’t expect this one for a while, however, as no cast or writers have been attached to it just yet.
1. American Gods
The long-awaited adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s brilliant brick of a novel American Gods is almost here! A road journey through various mythologies, the show has an all-star cast including Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily Browning and Gillian Anderson. The showrunner is the fantastic Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Hannibal, the upcoming Star Trek series). No airdate has been announced yet, so keep an eye out for it. It will hopefully be a genre TV classic.
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