16 Recent Book to TV Adaptations You Might Want to Check Out
Ah, the love of books. There’s nothing quite like it. We read words put into a page, and we fall for them, and not only that, we become weirdly passionate about them, about their meaning, about the picture they paint.
We’re ready to defend them, against any adversary, even if they, sometimes, need no defense.
Sometimes, all that’s happening to them is that someone – who, yes, might have a different interpretation than us – is getting a chance to bring them to the TV screen.
But, varying interpretations or not, it’s always exciting to see books we love get a chance at a TV adaptation. So here are 16 of the most recent book to TV adaptations you might want to give a chance to:
The Magicians, SyFy
Magic school, rivalries, strong female characters, romance, a healthy dose of drama, and a story that gives you Harry Potter vibes without being Harry Potter – what more could we ask of this? Other than, as many episodes as it takes to cover all the books in the series, that is.
The Shannara Chronicles, MTV – now moving to Spike
Think Lord of the Rings but with more of a YA vibe, dynamic and interesting characters, a ton of magic, and even a splash of horror. This is not your straightforward fantasy series, that’s for sure, and the first season is relatively short at ten episodes, with the show assured a second one, so this is the perfect time to check it out.
The People vs. O.J Simpson: American Crime Story, FX
Yes, this is very different from the other shows on the list, in that this is a true crime show, and as such, it deals with events that actually happened. This, of course, doesn’t make it any less interesting, if anything, it makes it even more. We’re always hungry for answers about history, and this show certainly delivers that.
Emerald City, NBC
A journey to the magical land of Oz – but not the journey we’re used to, one riddled with POC actors and new ways of telling a story we’ve known for generations. The show was sadly cancelled after one season but that doesn’t mean you can’t check out the beautiful first season and fall in love with the possibilities.
The Night Manager, BBC
Mystery, spies, great acting, and a surprise at every turn are what await you on this adaptation of the novel by John le Carré. And, to make it even better, the first season is only six episodes and that just sounds like a great weekend endeavor, doesn’t it? Plus, season 2 is assured!
11.22.63, Hulu
What if JFK hadn’t died? What if someone could go back in time and save him? How would that change the world?
The question was terribly interesting when Stephen King wrote a book about it, and it becomes chillingly real when you see it all coming to life, and when you sit down to consider the actual implications. Can we try to make this one a reality?
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz
Lawyer. Writer. Columnist. Geek. Falls in madly in love with fictional characters. Hates the color yellow, misogyny, and people who are late. Can always be found with a book. Watches an absurd amount of TV every week, often, while eating coffee ice cream. She has no regrets. You can check out her blog here: Absurday. Lissete is a senior writer for Tell-Tale TV. Follow @lizziethat