I love books. I love movies. I love TV shows. So of course, I love it when my favorite books are turned into movies and TV shows. Every part of the process is so exciting — seeing who’s cast, watching the behind-the-scenes action, getting to watch the movie, and then discussing what it got right and what it got wrong with my fellow bookish friends. Some of my favorite movies from the past years have been based on fantastic YA literature — the Harry Potter films and The Fault in Our Stars, for example — and I’m always most excited to see what new YA books are going to get picked up for film adaptions.
I always keep my eyes peeled for YA-into-film news, and there are some really exciting projects that are coming up! Here’s a list of my most anticipated upcoming (or just occurring) book-to-film adaptations. Let us know what you’re most excited to see in the comments below!
Drink Slay Love
In Sarah Beth Durst’s novel, sixteen-year-old vampire Pearl learns that a unicorn attack has made her immune to sunlight, allowing her to go out in the daytime. To take advantage of this, her family sends her to high school to Hunt. But Pearl’s starting to have a conscience too, and discovering that slaying her friends might not be too easy. This funny, sexy book was just made into a Lifetime Original Movie.
The Mortal Instruments
Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters have not one, but two adaptations. A traditional adaptation of the first Mortal Instruments book, City of Bones, hit movie screens in 2013. A looser television adaptation, Shadowhunters, has been airing on Freeform since 2016, and just got picked up for a third season.
Nancy Drew — forthcoming TV show
It’s been a few years since the Emma Roberts helmed Nancy Drew movie, and I for one am ready for more Nancy Drew action! Luckily, NBC is producing a new TV series. This version revolves around the author of a popular teen detective series who winds up thrust into a real-life murder mystery. She turns to her two childhood best friends, who were the inspiration from her books — and aren’t pleased about the way they were portrayed in them. It’s definitely a big twist on classic Nancy, but I’m excited about it!
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before — in production
The first book in Jenny Han’s sweet trilogy follows hopeless romantic Lara Jean, who handwrites letters to every boy she’s ever loved and then sticks them away in a hatbox. Her love life goes from non-existent to spectacularly out of control when the letters somehow get mailed, and all the boys learn her feelings. The film adaptation of this series wrapped filming just a few weeks ago, with X-Men’s Laura Condor in the lead role, and we could not be more excited. For updates on the film, check out Jenny Han’s Twitter and Instagram! She’s the best at keeping us up-to-date!
Beast Is An Animal — in production
Amazon will be producing a TV series based on Peternelle van Arsdale’s gothic and poetic novel with Alien and Blade Runner director Ridley Scott’s production company. Alys was seven the first time she saw the soul eaters that live in the woods. They attacked Alys’ village, killing most of her family. Alys was spared and sent to live in a neighboring village, where the devout people taught her to fear the soul eaters, and the Beast who rules over them. But the Beast isn’t who the villagers think he is — and neither is Alys, who feels connected to the soul eaters and longs for the freedom of the forest. This novel is lush and eerie, and we can’t wait to see it come to life on TV.
Scythe —in production
Universal snagged the film rights for Scythe before the book even came out. Although not much is known about the production, we’re still excited for the potential for Shusterman’s eerie and brilliant novel about Citra and Rowan, two teens who live in a utopian future where death and sickness have been eradicated. Population is kept in check by Scythes, a group of specially selected people who are tasked with deciding who dies and when. When Citra and Rowan are selected to be Scythe apprentices, they’re thrown into a world of dangerous politics and high-pressure stakes. While you’re waiting for more movie news, be sure to grab the sequel, Thunderhead, which is hitting shelves in January!
The Diabolic —in production
Sony acquired the film rights to The Diabolic just around a year ago, and now that the sequel The Empress is out, we’re more excited than ever for this book to come to life on screen. SJ Kincaid’s sci-fi adventure follows Nemesis, a genetically engineered superhuman called a Diabolic who’s tasked with protecting one person — Sydonia, the daughter of a senator. When the power-mad emperor calls on Syndonia to act as a hostage at the galactic capital, Nemesis goes in her place, entering a world of high-stakes political maneuvering.