We all know that books are the best inspiration for movies and TV shows. If you think about it, many of the most successful blockbusters and popular TV shows have been based on novels and comics. Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Handmaids Tale, Outlander and the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe – all of these hit shows and movies are based on books.
Scroll down for 32 film adaptations and TV shows based on novels or comics that we’re exciting to watch in 2019…
The Final Season of Game of Thrones!!
Okay, so technically the book that this final season of Game of Thrones will be based on hasn’t actually been written yet. And obviously this show isn’t starting it’s first season this year. Game of Thrones, watched by millions of fans around the world, will be ENDING in 2019! Can you believe it? This is probably going to be the biggest television event of the entire year and certainly the end of an era.
Every other TV show on this list will be starting it’s first season in 2019 – but I just had to include Game of Thrones because honestly, I can’t think of any other screen adaptation of a book that is more exciting than the long awaited conclusion to Game of Thrones. Soon fans everywhere will FINALLY find out how this epic story ends. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Check out the latest teaser trailer below:
Click here for more information on the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin
The Woman In The Window by A.J. Finn
Based on the bestselling crime novel by A.J. Finn, the upcoming film adaptation of The Woman in the Window will star Amy Adams in the lead role of Anna North. Gary Oldman and Julianne Moore will also star in lead roles, which the film due for release in September 2019.
Click here for more information on the book…
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene
This will be the first film adaptation of the popular children’s story since the original film in 1939. Sophia Lillis (who previously starred in Sharp Objects and It) will star as Nancy Drew. Ellen DeGeneres is producing.
Click here for more information on the book…
All the Bright Places, Jennifer Niven
Based on the bestselling YA novel, this is the story of two unhappy teens in a small town. The film adaptation will premier on Netflix and will star Justice Smith and Dakota Fanning.
Click here for more information on the book…
George Clooney will return to the small screen to star and direct in a TV series based on Joseph Heller’s Catch 22. The six episode limited series will be produced by Paramount Television. Clooney will play the role of Col. Cathcart. The cast will also include Hugh Laurie, Kyle Chandler and Christopher Abbott as John Yossarian.
Click here for more information on the book…
Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)
The most highly anticipated Marvel movie of the year (not counting Avengers: Endgame which is also due for release in April 2019!) Captain Marvel will be the first female lead MCU movie and is hitting cinemas in March.
Watch the trailer below!
This film adaptation will be called Chaos Walking, which is the name of the Patrick Ness Trilogy which begins with The Knife of Never Letting Go. Starring Tom Hollands and Daisy Ridley, the film was going to be released in March 2019, however it has been delayed.
No new release date has been confirmed yet but we’re hoping it will premier later in the year!
Click here for more information on the book…
The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
The Sun is Also A Star is an upcoming film based on the young adult novel of the same name written by Nicola Yoon, and stars Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton. It is scheduled to be released May 17, 2019.
Click here for more information on the book…
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Greta Gerwig is directing an adaptation of Little Woman staring Saorsie Ronan, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep & Timothée Chalamet. For more information about his upcoming film adaptation CLICK HERE.
Click here for more information on the book…
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
After the gigantic success of of last year’s Netflix adaptation of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before a sequel seemed like a sure thing! Luckily, it’s in the works so we won’t have to wait long.
Click here for more information on the book…
IT (Chapter Two) by Stephen King
It: Chapter 2 is set 27 years after the events in the first movie, when the kids are all grown up! James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Jay Ryan, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, and Andy Bean portray the adult versions of The Losers Club. Bill Skarsgard will return as Pennywise the clown. For more information about the upcoming movie CLICK HERE.
Click here for more information on the book…
The Passage is an upcoming television series loosely based on the bestselling trilogy by Justin Cronini. It is set to premiere in the US in January 2019.
Click here for more information on the book…
A TV-series version of DC Comic The Watchmen has been announced. It will be made by HBO and the cast includes Jeremy Irons, Tim Blake Nelson, Frances Fisher, Louis Gosset Jr, Sara Vickers Dylan Schombing, Lily Rose Smith and Adelynn Spoon.
Click here for more information on the book…
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
Based on Rachael Lippincott’s novel of the same name, Five Feet Apart is an upcoming romantic drama starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson, due for release in March 2019
Watch the trailer below.
Click here for more information on the book…
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Good Omens is an upcoming six-part television serial based on the 1990 novel Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
The series will be directed by Douglas Mackinnon and written by Gaiman. David Tennant will star as the demon Crowley and Michael Sheen as the angel Aziraphale.
Click here for more information on the book…
Artemis Fowl is an upcoming fantasy adventure film based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Eoin Colfer. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film will star Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, Nonso Anozie, Josh Gad, and Judi Dench. It is due to hits screens in August 2019.
Watch the trailer below!
Click here for more information on the book…
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Marie Semple
Due for release in March 2019, this film adaptation of Marie Semple’s bestselling novel will star Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Emma Nelson, Kristen Wiig, Judy Greer, Laurence Fishburne, Troian Bellisario and James Urbaniak.
Watch the trailer below!
Click here for more information on the book…
The Pulitzer-prize winning novel will be adapted for the big screen. The cast includes Sarah Paulson, Nicole Kidman, Ansel Elgort and Luke Wilson. It is due for release in October 2019 – you can see some early images from the film set below:
Click here for more information on the book…
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
A TV series based on Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series is being made for BBC One. Although the first series hasn’t even aired yet, the show has already been renewed for a second series of eight episodes!
The cast includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson and Dafne Keen in the role of Lyra!
Click here for more information on the book…
Coming to the big screen for the first time since the 1989 film! Pet Sematary based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, is due for release in April 2019.
Watch the trailer below!
The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones
Starring Alicia Vikander and Riley Keough, this is a film adaptation based on the crime novel by Susanna Jones. It is currently in production and Netflix will distribute. No date has been announced yet but some set pictures have been released (see below) and the film is expected to air later in 2019.
Click here for more information on the book…
Spiderman: Far from Home (marvel comics)
Another comic book adaptation! This highly anticipated follow up to Spiderman: Homecoming is due out in July this year – watch the trailer below!
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
This one isn’t 100% certain to be released in 2019 but fingers crossed! The film based on the bestselling novel by Graeme Simsion has been in development for a while but it seems like it may be looking good for a 2019 release. Ben Taylor has been chosen to direct, however, we haven’t been able to find any confirmed announcements about cast yet. While we wait for more information, don’t forget to pre-order the third book in the series, The Rosie Result.
Click here for more information on the books…
The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion
The Last Thing He Wanted is an upcoming British-American political thriller film directed by Dee Rees based on the book of the same name by Joan Didion. It stars Anne Hathaway, Willem Dafoe, Ben Affleck, Toby Jones, Rosie Perez, Edi Gathegi, Mel Rodriguez, and Brian Rechkemmer.
Click here for more information on the book…
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Titled “The Turning”, the film will produced by Steven Spielberg and is loosely based on the supernatural horror novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The cast will include child actors Finn Wolfhard and Brooklyn Prince.
Click here for more information on the book…
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
A heartwarming and inspirational tale following a loyal family dog called Enzo, the film adaptation will star Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried. It is due for release in September 2019.
Click here for more information on the book…
The Kitchen is a DC comic about a group of women in Hell’s Kitchen in the 1970’s whose husbands are in the mafia. The movie adaptation is set to star Elizabeth Moss, Tiffany Haddish and Melissa McCarthy.
Click here for more information on the book…
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
Lovecraft Country is an upcoming drama horror television series based on the novel of the same name by Matt Ruff that is set to premiere on HBO. The cast includes Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Wunmi Mosaku, Aunjanue Ellis, Elizabeth Debicki and Michael Kenneth Williams.
Click here for more information on the book…
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
We don’t know much about this adaptation yet, however, it has been confirmed that Colin Firth will be playing Archibald Crane! Julie Walters has also been cast as Mrs Medlock. The film is in post production and expected to be released later in the year.
Click here for more information on the book…
Call of the Wild by Jack London
Set for release in December 2019, the cast of the CGI animated film adaptation of Jack London’s famous tale will feature the talented voices of a star studded cast including Karen Gillam, Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens and Wes Brown.
Click here for more information on the book…
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
The film version will be titled ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ and it will be a modern retelling of the Dickens tale staring Ben Whishaw, Gwendoline Christie, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie and Dev Patel starring as David Copperfield.
Click here for more information on the book…
Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic is being adapted again! The film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and the cast will include Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellen Skarsgard, Dave Bautista and Charlotte Rampling.
There’s no official release date (and we suspect it might not actually come out until 2020) but we’re including it on the list because maybe we’ll get lucky and maybe, just maybe it will be released in late 2019? (Probably not). (But maybe?)
Click here for more information on the book…
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About the Contributor
Sarah McDuling
Sarah McDuling is Booktopia's Category Manager for Children's and Young Adult Books. She has been in the bookselling game for almost a decade and a dedicated booklover since birth (potentially longer). At her happiest when reading a book, Sarah also enjoys talking/writing/tweeting about books. In her spare time, she often likes to buy a lot of books and take photographs of books. You can follow her on Twitter and Instragram @sarahmcduling
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