Book-to-Screen Adaptations and Option Deals — 2026-09-27
This week's headline development is a Mary Poppins TV series in the works that will draw on darker elements of P.L. Travers's original novels, with Deadline reporting showrunners are being approached. Meanwhile, Backstage published an inside look at how BookTok adaptations are casting leads in pairs via chemistry reads, and book-to-screen momentum remains a major engine for Netflix, with book-based titles accounting for nearly 20% of the service's viewing hours.
Book-to-Screen Adaptations and Option Deals — 2026-09-27
Top developments
'Mary Poppins' TV series in the works, leaning into darker novel elements
Deadline reported on September 25 that a 'Mary Poppins' TV series is in development, and that it will lean into more complex, darker elements of P.L. Travers's source novels rather than the tone of the beloved films — with showrunners currently being approached. The project signals a premium-TV reimagining strategy for classic literary IP, following similar prestige takes on classics like 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'East of Eden.'
Backstage lifts the curtain on BookTok adaptation casting
Backstage (September 23) detailed how YA, romance, and romantasy adaptations cast leads in pairs and hinge decisions on chemistry reads, with several titles actively casting now. It's a useful window into the production pipeline for the BookTok-driven adaptation wave that has fueled titles like 'People We Meet on Vacation' and the Elsie Silver 'Rose Hill' series at Prime Video.
Fall 2026: 12 books heading to film and TV this season
UPI published a fall reading list on September 22 highlighting 'East of Eden,' 'Carrie,' and 'The Hunger Games' prequel 'Sunrise on the Reaping' among the books being adapted for film and television this fall. It frames the密集 slate — from Verity to The Dog Stars — that defines the season for rights holders and booksellers alike.
Netflix's October slate includes book-based 'East of Eden'
TV Guide (September 24) reports Netflix's October lineup includes the Josh Hartnett-led limited series 'Below,' 'The Diplomat' Season 4, Ben Affleck's 'Animals,' and 'East of Eden' — the Steinbeck adaptation arriving as one of the month's flagship literary titles.
Local view
Korean media continue to dissect Netflix's literary- and webtoon-based slate. Dailian (September 22) offered a critical take on Netflix's Korean series lineup, arguing that despite flashy casting and novel settings — from Joseon-set creature features to folklore-based thrillers and a provocative sageuk — the shows have struggled to clear the quality bar. Korean blogs and hotbrief.news (September 18) also recapped the new series 'Scandal,' starring Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and NaNa in an 8-episode adaptation riffing on 'Dangerous Liaisons,' noting strong pre-release buzz.
Context & numbers
- Book-based titles drove over 9 billion global views in 2025 on Netflix, representing nearly 20% of all hours watched on the service, per Netflix's own reporting.
- The adaptation sales-spike effect remains powerful: Penguin Random House reported a 180% increase in sales of the movie tie-in edition of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' in the week after the film's release.
- Jennifer Iacopelli's 'Finding Her Edge' saw a major breakout following its adaptation deal, with 13 new translation deals and the paperback tie-in selling five times as many copies as the hardcover in eight weeks.
On the radar
- 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' has been renewed for a Season 2, per Deadline's roundup of TV shows based on books.
- Prime Video's 'Rose Hill' series based on Elsie Silver's romance novels continues to build news flow, with Deadline tracking its ongoing development.
- 'The Last Thing He Told Me' Season 2 (based on Laura Dave's 'The First Time I Saw Him,' starring Jennifer Garner) is slated for February 20, 2026... — note: the listed premiere date precedes this coverage window; treat further updates as worth monitoring rather than confirmed new scheduling.
- Rumored/mooting stage: the Mary Poppins series has no showrunner attached yet; watch for the first staffing announcements, as Deadline reports approaches are underway.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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