This December episode of the Fully-Booked podcast is one of those free-for-all episodes where we cover anything we like, without a specific theme. This week’s discussion is about upcoming 2025 book adaptations we are excited about!
This episode was notably pre-recorded, as Shirin was scheduled to be on maternity leave by the time of its airing.
Note
The following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
Current Reading Discussion: Contemporary Literature Analysis
We begin by sharing our recent reading experiences. Shirin discusses Ali Hazelwood’s 2 Can Play, offering a critical analysis of its workplace romance narrative structure and problematic relationship dynamics.
Meaghan shares her experience with two recent reads: A Glimmer in the Hollows from Round Fire Books, which she describes as a genre-bending mystery that evolves into science fiction, and We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kleewer, a thriller that originated from Reddit’s NoSleep community.
RelatedAre you excited for the book adaptation of Project Hail Mary into a movie?
Adaptation Discourse and Fan Culture Analysis
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the complex relationship between book adaptations and fan reception. We explore how fan expectations and reactions can impact production decisions, citing specific examples:
- The shelving of A Court of Thorns and Roses adaptation by Hulu
- The successful casting decisions in Shadow and Bone
- The controversy surrounding various casting choices, including Idris Elba in The Dark Tower
- The debate over Hermione’s casting in the theatrical production of The Cursed Child
RelatedSalem’s Lot (2024) Is Bringing Scary Vampires Back, Finally!
We then move into a detailed examination of upcoming adaptations scheduled or anticipated for 2025:
Horror and Thriller Adaptations
- Welcome to Derry (HBO) – A prequel series to It featuring Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise
- The Housemaid by Freda McFadden, starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney
- Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein for Netflix, featuring a stellar cast including Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletterYoung Adult and Mystery Adaptations
- We Were Liars coming to Amazon Prime
- The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2. The show’s first season premiered in summer 2024 in Britain and on Netflix.
- The Inheritance Games adaptation (in development)
Contemporary Literature Adaptations
- Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation – the first screen adaptation of her work
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This comes off the back of the successful adaptation of Daisy Jones & the Six from Prime.
- Verity by Colleen Hoover, starring Anne Hathaway. This is Hoover’s foray into the world of thrillers, and we’re curious to see how an adaptation of this sort of story holds up.
Related10 Dystopian Young Adult Book Adaptations That Became Epic Hits
Production Analysis and Industry Insights
We also discuss insights into the adaptation process and industry trends throughout their discussion.
The industry’s approach to casting has evolved significantly, particularly in how productions handle fan expectations versus creative decisions. We see this exemplified in multiple upcoming projects:
- Anne Hathaway’s casting in Verity represents a strategic choice to bring established star power to the complex source material.
- The casting of Tom Blyth and Emily Borden in People We Meet on Vacation shows a careful balance between emerging talent and proven performers.
- The ensemble approach for del Toro’s Frankenstein demonstrates how productions are leveraging diverse talent pools to create compelling ensemble casts.
We’re witnessing a remarkable trend in how different types of adaptations are being scaled:
- Premium television series like It: Welcome to Derry are receiving feature-film-level budgets and production values.
- Smaller, character-driven stories like The Housemaid are being positioned as mid-budget prestigious productions.
- Streaming platforms are investing heavily in multi-season potential, as evidenced by The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder renewal strategy
The industry is embracing innovative production techniques to translate complex literary narratives:
- Advanced visual effects integration for fantasy and horror adaptations.
- Sophisticated narrative structuring for non-linear storytelling (particularly relevant for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo).
- Enhanced production design capabilities that allow for a more faithful recreation of literary worlds.
We’re seeing carefully orchestrated release strategies that consider:
- Strategic timing of releases to avoid oversaturation in specific genres.
- Coordinated marketing campaigns that engage both book fans and new audiences.
- Platform-specific release models (binge vs. weekly episodes) tailored to content type.
Key trends emerging in the adaptation landscape:
- Increased focus on diverse source material and representation
- Growing emphasis on author involvement in adaptation processes
- Rising importance of social media engagement and fan community management
- Strategic franchise development potential for successful adaptations
Closing Observations
The episode concludes with reflections on how 2025 is shaping up to be a significant year for book-to-screen adaptations, with both of us expressing particular interest in how these various projects will handle their source material and meet audience expectations.
The discussion consistently returns to the theme of balancing faithful adaptation with creative interpretation, suggesting that the success of these upcoming projects will largely depend on how well they navigate these competing demands while maintaining the essence of their source material.
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