Autumn has arrived, and with October around the corner, fall will soon officially be in full swing. After some spicy and suspenseful book adaptations in August and September, the rest of the ‘ber months have some great stories heading to the screen. It is truly perfect timing for certain Young Adult and new classics to transform into TV and film during the holidays, when you can cozy up with a good book and follow the show or film adapted from it.
The television adaptation of “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus arrives in October on Apple TV+. The trailer for the “Hunger Games” prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” launched to build anticipation for the arrival of the Lionsgate film in theaters November. November will also see Shawn Levy’s limited series adaptation of “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr as well as Onyx Collective’s television adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s “Black Cake.”
Here are the 2023 book adaptations to look forward to:
“Goosebumps” – Oct. 13 (Hulu & Disney+)
R.L. Stine’s spooky book series has been adapted into a television show, which will land on Hulu and Disney+ in October. The first five episodes drop on both streamers Oct. 13, which is a Friday! Scary, indeed.
“Lessons in Chemistry” – Oct. 13 (Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) is one of the smartest women in her lab, and her affinity for chemistry is promising, until she gets pregnant and finds herself fired as a result. In a patriarchal society, she gets redirected to a cooking show TV program, but she teaches her fanbase, at-home wives and husbands who tune in, more than just recipes. Based on the best-selling debut novel by Bonnie Garmus, the first two episodes of“Lessons in Chemistry” arrive Oct. 13 on Apple TV+, followed by new episodes weekly.
“Black Cake” – Nov. 1 (Hulu)
Charmaine Wilkerson’s “Black Cake” has been adapted into a TV show produced by Marissa Jo Cerar, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. The family drama entwined in a murder mystery spans Jamaica, Italy, Scotland, England and Southern California starting with runaway bride Covey (Mia Isaac) in 1960’s Jamaica and flashing back and forth to Eleanor Bennett’s death from cancer in present day Southern California. Bennett’s estranged children Byron and Benny receive a flash drive left behind by their mother that contains family history in the form of her travels from the Caribbean to America. Cerar adapted the script and serves as showrunner on the series, which debuts on Hulu Nov. 1.
“All the Light We Cannot See” – Nov. 2 (Netflix)
Adapted from the book by Anthony Doerr, “All the Light We Cannot See” tells the story of Marie-Laure LeBlanc (Aria Mia Loberti), who flees with her father (Mark Ruffalo) from Paris when the German’s invade France to start World War II. On the other side of the dual narrative is Werner Pfennig (Louis Hoffman) a boy who can wire radios and fix them fast. Marie-Laure and her father protect a jewel known as the Sea of Flames, which is said to come with a curse to the one who possessess it. Werner has a good soul, and though he is a Nazi, he sees that there is more to the world than the Aryan agenda. The Shawn Levy-produced and directed, four-part series arrives on Netflix early in November.
“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” – Nov. 17 (Theatrical Release)
Suzanne Collins’ “Hunger Games” prequel book adaptation film heads to theaters November 17, 2023. Set in the time of young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), who prepares for his chance to be a mentor in the tenth annual Hunger Games, the story watches Snow be paired with a femail tribute from District 12 Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). “Euphoria star has been cast as Hunter Schafer, and Jason Schwartzman will portray Lucretuius “Lucky” Flickerman, ancestor to Stanley Tucci’s Caesar Flickerman, commentator on the games in the original films. Viola Davis will portray Volumnia Gaul, head gamemaker of the tenth annual games and villain. Peter Dinklage will play Casca Highbottom, unintentional creator of the Hunger Games.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” – Dec. 20 (Disney+)
Based on the best-selling book series by author Rick Riordan, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” follows a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), who learns that he has divine powers because his father is Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. The first two episodes of the eight-episode season premiere Dec. 20 on Disney+, with hopefully more seasons to follow if the first installment covers the events of “The Lightning Thief.”