Television’s love for literary adaptations is nothing new. As streaming companies continue to compete for viewership, recognizable stories that can bring new audiences to their platforms have become some of the most valuable properties in development. From classic novels to modern bestsellers, book adaptations continue to dominate television, and 2026 is shaping up to be another massive year for readers-turned-viewers.
Looking forward to 2026, there are numerous adaptations in the works that will land on your screen throughout the year. The book-to-screen stories span multiple genres, each backed by notable creative teams and major stars. With fan expectations already running high, these projects highlight how studios are betting on trusted source material to deliver their next wave of must-watch television.
Young Sherlock
Prime Video
Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes novels reimagine Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective as a teenager, tracing the formative years that shaped Sherlock’s intellect, morality, and emotional detachment. The books follow a young and brilliant but impulsive Holmes as he solves crimes long before Baker Street.
Now, Prime Video is teaming up with Guy Ritchie, who brought us the much-loved Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey Jr, to bring us Young Sherlock. The show promises a stylish, energetic take on the character’s early life in keeping with Ritchie’s own signature style.
What’s especially exciting is the casting of Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock, a choice that suggests a more emotionally open and volatile version of the detective. Coming on March 4, 2026, the series is expected to blend youthful, high-style drama with sharp mystery and quick wit, positioning it as a franchise starter for Prime Video.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Apple TV
Written by Rufi Thorpe, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a darkly funny, deeply empathetic novel. It follows the titular young woman living in poverty as she tries to navigate motherhood and internet culture. This is all witnessed through the lens of a protagonist who stands defiant against external judgments.
Starring Elle Fanning as Margo, Apple TV has taken on the mantle of its adaptation, with Big Little Lies’ David E. Kelley as writer and showrunner, and Nicole Kidman attached to the project as executive producer. With Margo’s Got Money Troubles serving as a Big Little Lies reunion, the Apple TV series is guaranteed to be a shrewd, engrossing character study.
There is also high anticipation for how the show will handle the book’s commentary on sex work, social media, and class without losing its compassion or becoming patronizing. But considering how Kelley developed Big Little Lies, it’s likely that the novel’s emotional nuance will remain intact.
His & Hers
Netflix
Alice Feeney’s His & Hers is a psychological thriller told through the dual perspectives of journalist Anna Andrews and Detective Jack Harper. The story centers on a murder investigation that both become entangled in. They are forced to confront the truth about the victim, the killer, and each other. The novel’s shifting viewpoints and unreliable narrators make it an incredibly tense read.
The project has already generated buzz among thriller fans, many of whom see it as a spiritual successor to hits like Gone Girl and Behind Her Eyes. Tessa Thompson leads the cast for Netflix as Anna, with Jon Bernthal playing her estranged husband, Harper. With Feeney’s intricate plotting and Netflix’s global reach, His & Hers is positioned to become one of the platform’s most talked-about limited series next year.
Carrie
Prime Video
Stephen King’s Carrie almost didn’t see the light of day, but it went on to become one of the most iconic horror novels ever written. Telling the story of a bullied teenage girl whose telekinetic powers erupt with devastating consequences, the story has been adapted multiple times for film and television — which King has had mixed feelings about.
Therefore, Prime Video has a challenge on their hands with this new adaptation. But bringing on the master of horror TV, Mike Flanagan, who also adapted Doctor Sleep, has gone down well with King. Flanagan’s plans are to stick closely to the book but bring it into the 21st century — with King’s support, of course.
Fans are cautiously optimistic, intrigued by the series exploration of Carrie’s world rather than a straight retelling. With Flanagan’s track record and Prime Video’s willingness to invest in this adaptation, the 2026 show is shaping up to be one of Prime Video’s most ambitious horror series.
The Law of Innocence
Netflix
With The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 premiering on Netflix in 2026, Michael Connelly’s novel series continues to pull in viewers. Season 4 will be taking its story from the novel, The Law of Innocence, which follows defense attorney Mickey Haller as he finds himself accused of murder and forced to defend his own innocence.
As the sixth novel in the series, the story raises the stakes by turning the legal system against its most famous advocate, the groundwork of which was laid out at the end of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3.
Most exciting about the new season is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s return as Haller, as this particular novel is one of the most intense entries in Connelly’s collection. Showrunner Ted Humphrey has promised a faithful adaptation, which expands to explore Mickey’s psyche in greater depth.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO Max
Game of Thrones fans have a lot to look forward to with George R.R. Martin’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This is a collection of George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, which take place a century before Game of Thrones. The stories follow a hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his young squire as they wander through Westeros.
Unlike the sprawling politics of House of the Dragon, this series promises a grounded tone and character-first storytelling.
What’s especially reassuring is that Martin has already praised A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, along with the fact that the show is adapting a finished set of stories. With the series heading to screens in January 2026, it could remind audiences why smaller-scale fantasy can be just as compelling as epic spectacle.
The Testaments
Hulu/Disney+
Legendary author Margaret Atwood took us back to Gilead with2019’s The Testaments, which serves as a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. Set 15 years after the original story, the novel is narrated by three women: the merciless Aunt Lydia, Agnes Jemima (adoptive daughter of Commander Kyle), and Canadian Daisy.
The Handmaid’s Tale showrunner Bruce Miller stepped away from the original show to direct the new adaptation, and he has already promised that The Testaments will feel both familiar and fresh for long-time viewers.