What To Read

2026 is shaping up to be an especially strong year for literary adaptations. From canonical classics like Wuthering Heights and The Odyssey to contemporary bestsellers such as Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary and the latest chapter in the Hunger Games universe, there is truly a story for every kind of fan coming to the silver screen this year.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Feb 14, 2026)

One of the most enduring and divisive works of English literature returns to the screen in a bold new adaptation from Saltburn and Promising Young Woman director, Emerald Fennell. Set on the wild Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights traces the destructive love between Heathcliff, played by Jacob Elordi, and Catherine Earnshaw, played by Margot Robbie, whose choices set off generations of resentment and revenge.

The Odyssey by Homer (Jul 17, 2026)

Director Christopher Nolan brings Homer’s epic poem to life in this ambitious adaptation of The Odyssey. Matt Damon headlines as Odysseus, whose long, perilous journey home to Ithaca becomes a sprawling cinematic spectacle. The film features a star-studded supporting cast, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Mia Goth, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page, and Charlize Theron.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (March 20, 2026)

Adapted from The Martian author, Andy Weir’s, bestselling science-fiction novel, Project Hail Mary follows an unlikely hero, played by Ryan Gosling, tasked with saving Earth from an extinction-level catastrophe. When Ryland Grace, a former middle-school science teacher, wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there, he must piece together both his mission and his identity.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (Jan 9, 2026)

Adapted from Emily Henry’s bestselling contemporary romance, People We Meet on Vacation follows best friends Poppy and Alex, whose once-annual summer trips have abruptly ended after a mysterious falling-out. Told across multiple vacations over a decade, the story follows the pair as they slowly confront what went wrong and what they still mean to each other. The movie stars Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, and has an all star ensemble cast that includes Jameela Jamil, Lukas Gage, Alan Ruck, and Molly Shannon. 

Sense and Sensibility (Sept 11, 2026)

Directed by Georgia Oakley and adapted by Diana Reid, the adaptation of Jane Austen’s debut novel stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Caitríona Balfe, and George MacKay, among others. Set in Regency-era England, the story follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate life after their father’s death and their family’s financial downturn. 

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Nov 20, 2026)

This prequel to The Hunger Games franchise adapts Suzanne Collins’s 2025 novel centered on the infamous 50th Hunger Games, when the districts were forced to send twice as many participants as usual. Set decades before Katniss’ story, the film follows protagonist young Haymitch Abernathy and explores the brutal escalation of the Games and the political machinery behind the spectacle. Starring Joseph Zada as Haymitch, with Ralph Fiennes as President Snow and Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, the adaptation provides even greater depth to the series’ lore.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis (Nov 26, 2026)

This prequel to The Chronicles of Narnia, explores the origins of the world — including its creation, its first evil, and the planting of the tree that will later protect Narnia. The story follows two children who stumble into other worlds through forbidden magic, unleashing forces they barely understand. With Barbie and Little Women director, Greta Gerwig, at the helm, and a cast that includes Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep, expectations for this return to C.S. Lewis’ magical universe are sky high.  

Verity by Colleen Hoover (Oct 2, 2026)

Colleen Hoover’s dark psychological thriller makes the leap to the screen in a tense adaptation starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway. The film follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired to complete the bestselling series of incapacitated author Verity Crawford. When Lowen uncovers a disturbing unpublished manuscript, the line between truth and fiction begins to blur and Lowen must decide whether or not reveal the manuscripts shocking revelations. 

The Cat in the Hat (Nov 6, 2026)

Dr. Seuss’s iconic children’s book receives a new animated adaptation that reintroduces the mischievous Cat to a new generation. When two children are left alone on a rainy day, the Cat arrives — bringing chaos and a complete upending of household order. Featuring the voice of Bill Hader as the Cat, and Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Giancarlo Esposito, America Ferrera, and Bowen Yang also providing voice-overs.