We're living in a great era for original science fiction stories, with movies and shows like Dune, Severance, Foundation, Silo, Stranger Things, and more leading the way. But there are many more projects still to come, including at least six book adaptations.
Prepare for more Dune when Denis Villeneuve returns to adapt Dune Messiah. The world of The Handmaid's Tale will expand with a new series on Hulu, and Apple TV+ is adapting William Gibson's revolutionary Neuromancer novel. The following list highlights six books sci-fi fans should check out before they're adapted to the screen:
1. Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
Dune Messiah is the darker, more politically intriguing sequel to Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novel Dune. Messiah will form the basis for Dune: Part Three, the final entry in Denis Villeneuve's acclaimed trilogy. The novel picks up 12 years after Paul Atreides becomes emperor of the known universe. Timothée Chalamet will reprise his role for the film, along with Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Zendaya as Chani, and Florence Pugh as Princess Irluan.
Dune Messiah is shorter than the previous novel, so the whole of it can be adapted as one movie, whereas the first book was split in two. Messiah is a more personal, introspective book that delves into knotty themes of power and responsibility. The story doesn’t paint Paul out to be your typical hero, but rather decontructs his journey in a way that sets up what’s to come in future books.
2. The Running Man by Stephen King
Another year, another onslaught of Stephen King adaptations. There have already been several releases this year between The Monkey and The Institute on MGM+, but there are still more to come, including Edgar Wright's take on King's 1982 novel The Running Man. The novel was previously adapted in 1987, but this time it will feature Glen Powell in the lead role as Ben Richards.
The Running Man is a dystopian novel about a game show where people win money if they can manage to evade hit men sent to kill them. It fits thematically with the rise of dystopian media we've been seeing lately. The obvious point of comparison is the Netflix series Squid Game, which just wrapped on its third and final season.
King's other popular dystopian novel The Long Walk has also been adapted into a film set to be released this September. The Running Man comes out a couple of months later, on November 7.
3. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Andy Weir has carved out quite a loyal fanbase within the science fiction community thanks to books like The Martian and Project Hail Mary. Stars like Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain led the cast of The Martian adaptation, and now Project Hail Mary will become a film with Ryan Gosling in the lead role of lone astronaut Dr. Ryland Grace, who wakes up in space with no memory and a mission to save the human race from extinction.
Project Hail Mary is beloved by many for its complex emotional beats and thrilling plot twists. You'll want to experience them the way the author intended first if you can. The film was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and will hit theaters on March 26, 2026.
4. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The latest film from Guillermo del Toro is based on Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein. Oscar Isaac plays Dr. Victor Frankenstein, an eccentric and brilliant scientist who conducts a horrific experiment resulting in tragic consequences. Saltburn and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi will play Frankenstein’s monster.
Now is the perfect time to read (or reread) Shelley’s novel. Not only are we getting a new Frankenstein movie this year, but Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Bride of Frankenstein-inspired film The Bride! hits theaters in 2026. Christian Bale plays the monster in that one, and asks that a companion (Jessie Buckley) be made for him.
Reading Frankenstein is a worthwhile endeavor for any genre fan as it’s a foundational text for many sci-fi stories. Frankenstein will be released on Netflix this November, while The Bride! is coming to theaters on March 6, 2026.
5. Neuromancer by William Gibson
Fans of cyberpunk sci-fi cannot miss out on this visionary novel by William Gibson, the first in his Sprawl series. Set in a dystopian future, Neuromancer follows a hacker named Case after he's recruited to help pull off a high-stakes heist on a mega-corporation. It can be a slightly complicated book to read due to its unique terminology and dense prose. Gibson is one of those authors who dives right into his storytelling without setting up much worldbuilding or exposition, meaning unprepared readers might feel overwhelmed when they see tons of random terms thrown out without explanation.
There are many dedicated online communities for fans to gather and discuss elements of the book, as certain aspects are left open to the reader's interpretation. The idea of adapting a book like this for television seems like a daunting task, but Apple TV+ is making it happen with a 10-episode season soon.
The series is co-created by Graham Roland (Dark Winds) and J.D. Dillard (Sweetheart). Apple TV+ hasn't set a premiere date yet, but I feel like viewers would benefit from the novel reading before the show starts and maybe again while it's airing. It might provide some context for certain indecipherable moments.
6. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Hulu's acclaimed adaptation of Margaret Atwood's book The Handmaid's Tale wrapped up a few months ago, but Hulu and MGM have already announced their future plans for the series. Next, they will adapt Atwood's sequel novel The Testaments, which takes place over 15 years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale.
The Testaments will return us to the dystopian world of Gilead, where women capable of bearing children are treated as a sort of slave class, and follow the lives of three women: Lydia, Agnes, and Nicole. Ann Dowd will reprise her role as Lydia and the other two main roles will be played by Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday. Rowan Blanchard will also star.
The Handmaid's Tale creator and showrunner Bruce Miller returns to helm The Testaments. It's also possible that Elisabeth Moss could return as June at some point, but thus far nothing is set in stone.
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