Books Receiving Television Adaptations In 2020 (Part One)

It is already clear that 2020 is going to be a big year for book to film adaptations, but those who prefer staying at home and watching television won't be missing out. This year also sees a large number of books heading for the small screen. Game of Thrones has proven that the television format can be every bit as compelling as the big screen if the right source material is used and the budget is big enough. For more proof, check out the following books that are all receiving television adaptations in 2020 and beyond.

Nine Perfect Strangers

by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is no stranger to film adaptations of her books as her novel, Big Little Lies, was turned into a television series by HBO. For her 2018 novel, Nine Perfect Strangers, it is Hulu who is handling the television adaptation with Nicole Kidman signed on as star and producer. The novel is about nine people who get a lot more than they ever bargained for when they make use of a remote health resort. Each of them has their own reasons for hoping that the resort will change their lives but then discover that there is more to the place than what meets the eye. There is still a bit of a wait in store for fans of the book as the series is only set to premiere at the end of 2020.

Made for Love

by Alissa Nutting

Made for Love by Alissa Nutting was published in 2017 and generated enough buzz for HBO to develop an interest in turning it into a television show. The book opens with the protagonist, Hazel, escaping the clutches of her very controlling husband, Byron Gogol. As the CEO and founder of Gogol Industries, Byron has been keeping Hazel almost imprisoned at the family compound. However, the last straw for Hazel is her husband demanding that she agrees to a brain chip that will wirelessly connect the two of them. After running out on her marriage she ends up in a trailer park of senior citizens with her father and his "unique" companion as roommates. Meanwhile, Byron has access to all the sophisticated tools in the world and is using them to try and find Hazel. The television series will star Cristin Milioti as Hazel Green while Ray Romano has been reported as playing her father, Herbert. While no premiere date has been set for the series, HBO Max will launch in spring 2020.

The Luminaries

by Eleanor Catton

The Luminaries was published in 2013 and is the second novel by Eleanor Catton. The novel, which is set in 1866, won Catton the 2013 Man Booker Prize amongst other awards and honors. The protagonist, Walter Moody, is a prospector trying to make his fortune on the goldfields but finds himself drawn into a complex mystery instead. It seems that after a wealthy man has vanished an enormous fortune somehow ended up in the home of a drunk who is perpetually down on his luck. Eleanor Catton herself is handling the television adaptation for the upcoming six-part series and it is set to air during 2020 on BBC2 in the UK. What is interesting about this adaptation is that it is said to be very different from the novel and will be telling the story from a unique point of view. Cast members for The Luminaries include Eva Green, Eve Hewson, and Himesh Patel.

Brave New World

by Aldous Huxley

The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley was published in 1932, but its dystopian themes are still as relevant today as it was back then. The setting for the novel is a future world where humanity has given up their freedom and submitted to an authoritarian ruling order. In return, these genetically bred and socially indoctrinated citizens benefit from peace and stability. Ridley Scott and Leonardo DiCaprio planned to collaborate on a film adaptation of the book, but the project turned out to be more challenging then they thought and it was put on hold. Then in 2015 Syfy announced their plans for a television adaptation, but four years later it was moved to the USA Network. Eventually in late 2019 NBCUniversal announced that Brave New World would move to Peacock, their video-on-demand streaming service that is set to launch in 2020. Actors and actresses attached to this adaptation include Demi Moore, Alden Ehrenreich, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Harry Lloyd.

I Know This Much Is True

by Wally Lamb

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb was published in 1998 and went on to be featured in Oprah's Book Club that same year. It's the story of Dominick Birdsey, a man with an identical twin, Thomas, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Dominick tries to help his brother out after a severe episode but suffers from a lot of issues in his own life along with the strain of being Thomas' self-appointed protector. When Thomas ends up in a hospital for the dangerously mentally ill, it is Dominick who discovers a lot of irregularities that are taking place at the facility. However, after managing to get Thomas out, things take an even darker turn. I Know This Much Is True will premiere in April 2020 on HBO and will star Mark Ruffalo in the role of both Dominick and Thomas. Other cast members include Rosie O'Donnell, Imogen Poots, and Juliette Lewis.