7 upcoming book-to-movie adaptations
Mohan Gulrajani
7 upcoming book-to-movie adaptations you should read before their big screen debut
By Saloni Dhruv
2025 is shaping up to be another huge year for book-to-movie adaptations. We've already seen buzzy releases like The Murderbot Diaries, Die My Love, The Salt Path, The Life of Chuck, and We Were Liars hit screens, proving that the best stories often begin on the page.
From thrillers and sci-fi epics to emotional dramas and literary classics, more books are getting the Hollywood treatment. To stay ahead of the curve, and of course, the spoilers, here are 7 books to read now before their much-anticipated film or streaming adaptations.
7 upcoming book-to-movie adaptations you should read before their big screen debut
1. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Movie release date: August 22, 2025
Set in a peaceful retirement village, four septuagenarians – Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim – meet weekly to solve cold cases. But when a local murder shocks their community, the Thursday Murder Club finds itself embroiled in a real-life investigation. Witty, charming, and surprisingly touching, Osman's debut has become a runaway hit. The upcoming adaptation is produced by Steven Spielberg and stars Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. Read it now for a delightful mystery that pokes fun at crime fiction while celebrating friendship, aging, and the thrill of solving puzzles.
2. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Movie release date: August 1, 2025
Ella Durran is a rising political star who lands a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. But her plans shift when she meets Jamie Davenport, a charming local with secrets of his own. What begins as a breezy romance deepens into a heart-wrenching story about ambition, sacrifice, and love. With the film adaptation set for release soon, readers can prepare to cry, swoon, and reflect on what truly matters in life.
3. Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Movie release date: October 24, 2025
Colleen Hoover’s novel explores the strained relationship between Morgan and her teenage daughter Clara after a tragic loss upends their lives. As secrets unravel and tensions mount, both women must navigate grief, betrayal, and forgiveness. Told in dual perspectives, the book captures the rawness of family, first love, and growing apart while trying to find your way back. The film has a roster of stars, including Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Willa Fitzgerald and Scott Eastwood among others.
4. The Running Man by Stephen King
Movie release date: November 7, 2025
This book presents a grim dystopian future where the desperate compete in deadly game shows. Ben Richards, a jobless man trying to save his sick daughter, volunteers for “The Running Man,” a brutal televised hunt with a fatal twist. Though famously adapted in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the 2025 remake starring Glen Powell promises a darker, more faithful take.
5. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Movie release date: November 2025
The classic horror novel returns to the big screen in a fresh adaptation by Guillermo del Toro, with Oscar Isaac reportedly attached. Written by Mary Shelley at just 18, Frankenstein is far more philosophical than its pop-culture image. Victor Frankenstein's creation is no mindless monster, but a deeply tragic figure craving love and identity. The novel explores ambition, scientific responsibility, and what it means to be human. Whether you’re revisiting it or reading it for the first time, this timeless tale of creation and consequence deserves a place on your shelf.
6. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Movie release date: December 25, 2025
Millie is desperate when she lands a job as a live-in housemaid for the rich and beautiful Winchester family. But what seems like the perfect gig quickly turns sinister. With locked doors, chilling secrets, and a plot full of jaw-dropping twists, The Housemaid is a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. The upcoming film adaptation, starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar and Michele Morrone, promises to amplify the suspense and mind games, making now the perfect time to read the book that made social media shiver and question who you can really trust.
7. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Movie release date: March 20, 2026
Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace, a man who wakes up alone in a spaceship with no memory of who he is, or why he's humanity’s last hope. As he pieces together his mission, he encounters an unexpected alien ally, and together they work to save their respective worlds. This blend of hard science, humor, and heart has captivated readers and is set to come on the big screen with Ryan Gosling in the lead.
Professor (Dr.) M. L. Gulrajani F.S.D.C. (UK)
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