If you love seeing your favorite books come to life on screen, 2025 is shaping up to be a really good year. We’re getting everything from twisty psychological thrillers and emotional romances to dystopian stories and timeless classics—all making the jump from page to screen.
Whether you’re the type who has to read the book first or you just want to know what adaptations are worth watching, this list rounds up the most anticipated book-to-screen releases you’ll want on your radar.
🎬 The Running Man by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)
Director Edgar Wright brings a fresh take on King’s dystopian thriller, aiming for a more faithful adaptation than the 1987 film. Starring Glen Powell, this action-packed narrative follows a man participating in a deadly game show where survival is the ultimate prize. Scheduled for release on November 7, 2025
The Running Man
A desperate man enters a brutal reality show where survival is the only goal. Hunted by a deadly strike force, he must stay alive for 30 days to win a life-changing prize—but no one has ever made it that long.
🐖 Animal Farm by George Orwell
Andy Serkis directs this animated adaptation of Orwell’s allegorical novella. Featuring voices like Seth Rogen and Woody Harrelson, the film explores themes of power and corruption through the lens of a farm animal rebellion. Set to premiere on July 11, 2025.
Animal Farm
A powerful allegorical classic where farm animals rebel to build a fair society—only to watch it spiral into a new form of tyranny. Orwell’s sharp satire remains a chilling reflection on power, control, and the fragility of freedom.
💔 Wish You Were Here by Renée Carlino
This poignant romance follows a woman who embarks on a whirlwind night with a man, only to discover he is terminally ill. Their journey together becomes a heartfelt exploration of love and loss. Starring Isabelle Fuhrman and Mena Massoud, the film is slated for release on January 17, 2025.
Wish You Were Here
A heartfelt second-chance romance about a woman torn between a steady new relationship and the memory of a fleeting, electric connection. As past and present collide, she must decide which path truly feels like home.
💔 The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
Jeneva Rose’s gripping thriller about a high-powered attorney defending her husband in a murder trial is being adapted for the screen. The sequel, The Perfect Divorce, continues the suspenseful saga, delving deeper into themes of trust and betrayal.
The Perfect Marriage
A high-powered defense attorney takes on her most personal case yet—defending her husband after he’s accused of murdering his mistress. As secrets unravel, she must confront how well she really knows the man she’s fighting to save.
💘 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Netflix is producing a new six-part adaptation of Austen’s classic novel, with Olivia Colman as Mrs. Bennet and Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet. Written by Dolly Alderton and directed by Euros Lyn, this series aims to bring fresh perspectives to the timeless tale of love and social dynamics. Production is scheduled to begin in the UK later in 2025.
Pride and Prejudice (Masterpiece Library Edition)
A witty, timeless romance where Elizabeth Bennet and the enigmatic Mr. Darcy navigate love, pride, and social expectations. As misunderstandings unfold, both must challenge their assumptions to find something deeper than first impressions.
🔍 Missing You by Harlan Coben
Coben’s suspenseful novel about a detective uncovering secrets through an online dating site is set for adaptation. Known for intricate plots and unexpected twists, this story promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Missing You
An NYPD detective’s past resurfaces when she spots her long-lost ex on a dating app—triggering a dangerous investigation into deception, conspiracy, and buried secrets. As the truth unravels, she’s forced to question everything she thought she knew.
🧑🎤 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding
The beloved Bridget Jones returns in this adaptation of Fielding’s third novel in the series. Exploring themes of love, loss, and single parenthood, this installment offers both humor and heartfelt moments.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Bridget Jones returns in this hilarious and heartfelt sequel, navigating single motherhood, modern dating, and life’s unexpected turns. Packed with humor and honesty, it’s a charming story about resilience, reinvention, and finding joy again.
🧙♂️ The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag
Set in an alternate 1997, this sci-fi narrative follows a teenage girl and her robot companion on a journey through a dystopian America. The adaptation is anticipated to deliver stunning visuals and a poignant story.
The Electric State
A runaway teen and her small robot travel across a strange, crumbling America filled with the ruins of massive war machines and a society lost to virtual reality. As the world unravels around them, their journey becomes something far more unsettling than they expected.
🕵️ The Amateur by Robert Littell
This espionage thriller centers on a CIA cryptographer seeking justice after his fiancée’s murder. The adaptation is expected to delve into themes of revenge and the complexities of intelligence work.
The Amateur
When the CIA refuses to hunt down the terrorists who killed his fiancée, cryptographer Charlie Heller takes matters into his own hands. Crossing into enemy territory, he becomes both hunter and target in a high-stakes mission driven by revenge.
🐶 Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
Pilkey’s popular children’s series about a canine superhero is being adapted into an animated feature, promising fun and adventure for younger audiences.
Dog Man: The Supa Epic Collection (Dog Man #1-6 Box Set)
A fun-filled boxed set of the first six Dog Man adventures, featuring the crime-fighting hero who’s part dog, part man, and all heart. Packed with humor, action, and positive themes, this series is a hit with readers of all ages.
🏠 The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
One of the biggest psychological thrillers in recent years is getting the screen treatment. The Housemaid, known for its jaw-dropping twists and eerie domestic tension, is in development for a feature adaptation. Fans of dark secrets and unreliable narrators won’t want to miss this one, releasing on December 19th.
The Housemaid
Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.
They don’t know what I’m capable of …
🧳 The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
This atmospheric thriller set on a luxury cruise has been optioned for film, and production is underway. Expect an intense, suspenseful ride as a travel journalist witnesses something—or someone—go overboard, only to be told the cabin was never occupied.
The Woman in Cabin 10
A luxury cruise turns into a nightmare when travel writer Lo Blacklock witnesses a woman being thrown overboard—only for every passenger to still be accounted for. Trapped at sea with no proof and no escape, Lo must uncover the truth before whatever she saw disappears for good.
💕 People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Emily Henry’s beloved friends-to-lovers story is headed to the big screen. With its witty banter, nostalgic summer vibes, and heartfelt moments, it’s poised to become a favorite rom-com of the year.
People We Meet on Vacation
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.
✍️ Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson
This chilling thriller about a writer whose fictional plot mirrors a real-life murder is currently in development. Expect a gripping adaptation full of twists, blurred lines between fiction and reality, and a haunting look at the writer’s mind.
Kill Your Darlings
A brilliantly crafted psychological thriller told in reverse, unraveling a decades-long marriage built on secrets. Wendy and Thom have it all—until Wendy decides she wants her husband dead. As their story moves backward through time, a dark, shared past comes into focus… and reveals the chilling truth that’s kept them bound together for years.
Final Thoughts
No matter what kind of stories you’re drawn to—dark and twisty, romantic and emotional, or something a little more thought-provoking—there’s a 2025 adaptation waiting for you.
If any of these caught your eye, now’s the perfect time to pick up the book before watching it unfold on screen. And if you want more lists like this, keep an eye on LilliDigest for new reads, themed roundups, and all things bookish.
If you love tracking what’s coming next, you might also want to explore some already-loved adaptations. I’ve put together a list of books that became movies—perfect if you want to compare the original stories to their on-screen versions or revisit some fan-favorite adaptations.
👉 Browse books that became movies here.
