2026’s Must-Read Novels Before Their Big Screen and Streaming Adaptations Take Over

As 2026 continues to deliver a steady stream of book-to-screen adaptations, audiences are being encouraged to read the source material before watching the on-screen versions. From romantic comedies to epic fantasies and literary classics, a range of titles are set to arrive in theaters and on streaming platforms throughout the year, offering readers a chance to engage with the stories first.

Among the upcoming adaptations is the Prime Video series “Kiss Me (Off Campus),” based on Elle Kennedy’s popular romance series. Scheduled for release on May 13, the show follows Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham at the fictional Briar University, where a tutoring arrangement evolves into a genuine relationship after Garrett pretends to be Hannah’s boyfriend to make another character jealous. The series is part of a larger franchise, with future seasons planned to focus on other characters from the books, including Logan, Dean, and Tucker.

Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film adaptation of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” is set for release on July 17. The movie will star Matt Damon as Odysseus/Ulysses, alongside Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, and Charlize Theron as Circe. The film will follow Odysseus’ ten-year journey home after the Trojan War, including his encounters with mythical creatures such as the Cyclops and sirens, and his seven-year detention by the nymph Calypso on the island of Ogygia.

In September, a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” will arrive in theaters, directed by Georgia Oakley and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood. The film will also feature Caitríona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood, Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne Dashwood, George MacKay as Edward Ferrars, and Frank Dillane as John Willoughby. The story centers on the Dashwood sisters as they navigate financial insecurity and societal expectations following their father’s death, with marriage seen as a central concern for women of the era.

October will see the release of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s thriller “Verity,” starring Anne Hathaway as the titular character. Hathaway reunites with director Michael Showalter, with whom she previously worked on “The Idea of You” (2024). The film also stars Josh Hartnett as Jeremy, Verity’s husband, and Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, who is hired to complete Verity’s writing project after she falls into a coma. While staying at the couple’s home, Lowen discovers a hidden autobiography containing disturbing confessions from Verity.

November brings several major adaptations, beginning with “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” on November 20. This prequel, set 24 years before the original film, follows a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) during the Second Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film features a notable cast shift, including Maya Hawke as Wiress, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, and Ralph Fiennes as Coriolanus Snow, with Glenn Close joining the franchise and Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson reprising their roles as Katniss and Peeta.

Also in November, Greta Gerwig’s reboot of “The Chronicles of Narnia” will begin with “The Magician’s Nephew,” the first book in the series chronologically, though sixth in publication order. The film, produced in collaboration with Netflix, will star Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, and Meryl Streep, with David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell expected to portray Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. It is scheduled for theatrical release on November 26, followed by a Netflix release in December.

The holiday season will see the debut of a new “Harry Potter” series on HBO Max, adapting J.K. Rowling’s books for television. Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout will portray Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively, taking over the iconic roles from Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The series, created by Francesca Gardiner, will adapt one novel per season, beginning with “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.”

Netflix will also release a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in the autumn, with Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy, and Olivia Colman as Mrs. Bennet. The series continues the long tradition of adapting Austen’s work, which remains a cornerstone of romantic fiction since its publication in 1813.

Other notable 2026 adaptations include “Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood, a romantic comedy about a fake dating arrangement between a doctoral student and a gruff professor that turns real, starring Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman. “The Other Bennet Sister,” a Movistar Plus+ series focusing on Mary Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice,” will explore her journey of self-discovery, portrayed by Ella Bruccoleri, and will appeal to fans of period dramas and modern adaptations like “Bridgerton.”