After a glut of recent news, here's a list of all the science fiction and fantasy novels, short stories and novellas which are currently being developed for the screen. Natalie Zutter's article for Tor.com from last year was a helpful reference point for this post. Please follow after the break (this is a very long article).
Filming/Ready to Air
These projects are filming right now, or are in post-production and waiting to go on screen.
11.22.63 by Stephen King
Based on 11/22/63 (2011) • TV Mini-Series • 15 February 2016 • Airing on Hulu
This is an eight-part "even" mini-series debuting on Hulu next week. Based on Stephen King's novel, the story revolves around a young man who finds a portal leading to 1960. He has three years to prevent the asssassination of John F. Kennedy, but finds that every attempt to change the future results in catastrophic results.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
Based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001) • Film • 18 November 2016 • Directed by David Yates
Rowling returns to the Harry Potter universe (again, after the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage play project) for the first of a prequel trilogy. This film is set in 1926 and followers Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), an English wizard and magical creature expert who visits New York City only to inadvertently release his menagerie on the city. This causes tensions between the American magical community and the "No-Maj" American government, not to mention the New Salem witch-hunters who want to wipe out magic in North America.
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High Rise by J.G. Ballard
Based on High Rise (1975) • Film • 18 March 2016 • Directed by Ben Wheatley
J.G. Ballard's 1975 novel about people living in a luxury, high-rise building who form their own society and become cut off from the outside world is regarded as an SF classic. Wheatley's film, cleverly, is set in an alternate version of the 1970s and features a killer cast headed by Tom Hiddleston. Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Keeley Hawes, James Purefoy and Luke Evans also feature, with a soundtrack by the always-fascinating Clint Mansell. Preview screenings at film festivals have already highly praised the film.
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How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman
Based on "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" in Fragile Things (2006) • Film • 2016 • Directed by John Cameron Mitchell
The first of numerous Neil Gaiman projects on this list, How to Talk to Girls at Parties is based on a short story from his 2006 collection, Fragile Things, about a bunch of lads who go to a party to pick up girls only to get in over their heads when the girls turn out to be not exactly what they were expecting. Filming commenced in November 2015, starring Nicole Kidman and Matt Lucas.
Hunters by Whitley Streiber
Based on Alien Hunter (2013) • TV Series • 11 April 2016 • Airing on SyFy
A new TV show based on the novels Alien Hunter (2013) and Underworld (2014) by long-term SF and horror author Whitley Streiber (The Hunger, Communion). The story begins with the disappearance of an FBI agent's wife and his discovery that rogue aliens are living in secret among us. He joins a unit of special cops who have to flush them out of hiding, aided by "friendly" aliens.
Likely Stories by Neil Gaiman
Based on four undisclosed short stories • TV Series • 2016 • Airing on Sky Arts
A slightly odd TV series concept, this will draw on four short stories by Neil Gaiman, "Foreign Parts", "Feeders and Eaters", "Closing Time" and "Looking for the Girl". The stories will be rejigged to feature a recurring cast. Filming reportedly began in November 2015 and UK channel Sky Arts will show the series later this year. Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is providing the score. Neil Gaiman himself will appear "in some way". Intriguingly mysterious.
Luke Cage
Based on the Marvel Comics character (1972-present) • TV Series • 2016 • Airing on Netflix
The third of five (and potentially now six) Netflix TV series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Luke Cage character, played by Mike Colter, was already introduced through the Jessica Jones series last year and filming is apparently wrapping up on the series. The TV show will apparently be mostly set shortly after the events of Jessica Jones Season 1 but will also feature flashbacks to Cage's earlier life. The series is set in Harlem (unlike Jones and Daredevil, which are set in Hell's Kitchen) and also stars Alfre Woodward and Mahershala Ali. Rosario Dawson will reprise her role as Claire Temple (Nightnurse), who will link the various Netflix series together.
Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon
Based on Preacher (1995-2000) • TV Series • Mid-2016 • Airing on AMC
Based on the popular Preacher comic series, this TV show will focus on Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), a preacher who is not afraid to use violence to further his ends and becomes embroiled in a battle involving undead vampires, angels and a guy called Arseface. The comics are hugely profane and controversial and people doubted that justice could be done to the series (which even HBO backed out on). However, Ennis recently saw the first episode and praised it effusively. The trailer looks very promising.
She Who Brings Gifts by Mike Carey
Based on The Girl with All the Gifts (2014) • Film • 2016 • Directed by Colm McCarthy
Mike Carey himself wrote the film script for the movie based on The Girl with All the Gifts, despite a slightly baffling title change. Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close and Paddy Considine star in this near future, dystopia tale set after a zombie apocalypse has devastated humanity. The twist in this story is that the zombies are not necessarily all unintelligent, which sparks ethical concerns over whether they should be wiped out or not.
Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang
Based on "Stories of Your Life" in Starlight 2 (1998) • Film • 2016 • Directed by Denis Villeneuve
This film is based on the short story by Ted Chiang. It opens with enigmatic alien spacecraft landing all over the planet and linguistics experts desperately trying to communicate with them to determine if they are friendly or not. Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker star.
In Pre-Production
These projects are currently being prepped. Casting is taking place, the script is being finalised etc. Whilst it's possible for a project to be cancelled in pre-production, it's extremely rare.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Based on American Gods (2001) • TV Series • 2016 or 2017 • Airing on Starz
The American Gods TV series has been in development for some time, but is now ploughing ahead with Bryan Fuller and Michael Green as producers. Fuller is dividing his time between Gods and the new Star Trek series for CBS, so Green is expected to bear the brunt of showrunning duties. Ricky Whittle (The 100) was recently cast in the key, leading role of Shadow. Production is anticipated to begin in March or April 2016.
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
Based on The Gunslinger (1982) • Film • 2017 • Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
After a nightmarish, decade-long struggle to bring The Dark Tower series to the screen as films, a TV series or some hybrid of the two, Sony have finally greenlit the first film in the series. They are trying to woo Idris Elba to play the role of Roland of Deschain, with Matthew McConaughey the preferred choice to play the Man in Black. They need to lock that down quickly, with filming anticipated to begin in the spring. Sony have already inked in a January 2017 release date, but that seems rather ambitious right now. A slip to late in ther year looks highly likely.
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
Based on Fortunately, the Milk (2013) • Film • 2017 • Directed by Edgar Wright
Neil Gaiman's whimsical children's book, which features a father who goes out for a pint of milk and ends up embroiled in a plot involving aliens, time-travelling dinosaurs and vampires, has attracted some top-tier talent. Edgar Wright, director of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, is tapped to direct and Johnny Depp is currently in negotiations to play the central role. Brett McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords) has written the script.
Iron Fist
Based on the Marvel Comics character (1974-present) • TV series • 2016 or 2017 • Airing on Netflix
The fourth of five (possibly now six) Netflix TV shows based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this series will focus on the character of Danny Rand, an ordinary kid who gains amazing martial arts powers after his father is killed on a visit to a mysterious, mystical city. He returns to New York seeking vengeance on those who destroyed his family, teaming up with Luke Cage on the way. Scott Buck will produce the show, which is expected to enter production later this year.
Midnight, Texas by Charlaine Harris
Based on the Midnight, Texas novels (2013-present) • TV series • Autumn 2016 • Airing on NBC
Ex-phone psychic Manfred Bernardo relocates to the town of Midnight, Texas, where the supernatural coexist with ordinary people, and ends up embroiled in a spate of murders in the town. The series is expected to begin production in the next few months to debut in the autumn. David Janollari, a producer on Six Feet Under alongside Alan Ball (who produced the first five seasons of True Blood for HBO, based on Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels), will run the new series.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Based on Ready Player One (2011) • Film • 30 March 2018 • Directed by Steven Spielberg
Due to start shooting in a few weeks, although a cast hasn't yet been announced. Spielberg's next project is based on Ernest Cline's novel, which is set in 2044 and features an "Easter Egg" hunt by both individual geeks and massive corporate powers through a huge VR world, in search of a prize that could change the world.
Greenlit
These projects have been formally greenlit and are about to go into pre-production. Whilst it's possible for a project to be cancelled after being greenlit, it's quite rare, so these will probably happen.
100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso
Based on 100 Bullets (1999-2009) • Film • 2017/18 • Produced by Tom Hardy for New Line
This high-concept story features an enigmatic man, Agent Graves, who gives people who have been wronged a handgun, one hundred bullets and total immunity from prosecution by law enforcement. Some of the people he tries to "help" reject his offer on moral grounds, but others enthusiastically accept. Eventually it is revealed that Graves has a much broader, and far older, agenda. Tom Hardy is planning to produce this film for New Line and may star. However, it has still to find a director.
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Based on the Takeshi Kovacs novels (2002-05) • TV Series • 2017/18 • Airing on Netflix
Netflix and producer Laeta Kaolgridis (Avatar, Shutter Island) are teaming up for a TV series based on Richard Morgan's violent, visceral cyberpunk trilogy featuring the character of Takeshi Kovacs. Set in the 25th Century, the story revolves around people who can "resleeve" themselves in different bodies for interstellar travel and infiltration missions. Kovacs sets out to investigate a murder and winds up wreaking bloody vengeance after he is targeted for assassination. The TV series will apparently adapt all three novels (Altered Carbon, Broken Angels and Woken Furies), as well as introducing new stories set between the books. The Land Fit For Heroes fantasy trilogy, set in the same universe (or at least multiverse), is apparently not included in the deal.
The City and The City by China Mieville
Based on The City and The City (2009) • TV Series • 2017 • Airing on the BBC
The BBC are producing an adaptation of China Mieville's bizarre crime novel about two cities, Beszel and Ul Quoma, which coexist at the same point in space and time. Tony Grisoni, the co-writer of Tideland, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the TV series Red Riding, is developing the script.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Based on The Silver Chair (1953) • Film • 2017/18 • No director confirmed
After the disappointing performance of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 2010 it was assumed this movie series was dead in the water, with neither Disney nor 20th Century Fox interested in continuing the franchise. Instead, the C.S. Lewis Company and the Mark Gordon Company are apparently pressing ahead by themselves with an adaptation of The Silver Chair. Confusingly, the project has been described as a reboot despite picking up after the three previous films.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Based on the His Dark Materials Trilogy (1995-2001) • TV series • 2017-21 • Airing on the BBC
New Line's previous attempt to develop Pullman's YA novel trilogy as a movie series fell afoul of the American religious lobby and the disappointing performance of the Golden Compass movie. This new attempt sees New Line partnering with Bad Wolf Productions and the BBC for an ambitious five-season, 40-episode series based on all of the books in the trilogy. Bad Wolf's development deal with HBO suggests that they may also come on board, at least to distribute the series in the United States.
The Defenders
Based on the Marvel Comics characters (1971-present) • TV series • 2017/18 • Airing on Netflix
The Defenders is a big-budget, eight-episode "event" mini-series airing on Netflix as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will unite the stars of the four preceding Netflix series - Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist - and team them up to face a mutual, over-arcing threat. A precise schedule for the series hasn't been worked out, especially since Daredevil and Jessica Jones did so well as solo series they have now both gotten multiple seasons, which wasn't part of the original plan. However, the series will definitely happen at some point in the next 2-3 years.
Forgotten Realms
Based on the Dungeons and Dragons campaign setting (1987-present) • Film • 2018/19 • No director confirmed
Hasbro had been fighting a legal battle with Sweetpea Entertainment for the past three years over who owns the movie and TV rights to the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game until, rather unexpectedly, they made peace through the medium of money and, mutually and swiftly, joined forces with Warner Brothers to develop a new film. This new movie will be set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting (the most detailed fantasy world ever created) and is apparently being fast-tracked for release in the next three years. Hasbro and Warner Brothers hope to develop the Dungeons and Dragons name into a Marvel-style multiverse where many different films can coexist, so there's rather a lot riding on the film. It's unclear if this will be a totally new story with new characters, or will be a direct adaptation of one of the many bestselling novels in the setting (my vote would be for The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore).
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Based on The Mars Trilogy (1993-96) • TV Series • 2016/17 • Airing on Spike TV
With The Martian finally proving that it is possible to make a successful, hit movie about the Red Planet, Spike TV has fast-tracked their TV adaptation of Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy. Spanning 200 years, the books chronicle the colonisation of Mars, its industrial exploitation and terraforming, and the dumping of millions of refugees in a futile attempt to relieve Earth's burgeoning overpopulation as the melting Antarctic ice cap threatens to swamp the planet. This leads to tensions and an attempted revolution that goes badly wrong. Spike TV is an unusual choice for this project, but, excitingly, they have tapped American SF scriptwriter J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Crusade, Jericho, Sense8) to adapt the novel. Straczynski previously developed a long, political subplot about Mars as part of Babylon 5, so is familiar with the Red Planet.
Optioned
These books have had an option taken out on them by a studio or production company, meaning that the company has put a hold on the project and given the author some money whilst they consider the project further with potential writers or directors. Options can be anything from fairly speculative to very serious, "this is going to happen" developments. The majority of projects under option never reach the screen, but it's still an essential first step in that process.
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Based on Anansi Boys (2005) • TV Series • Optioned by the BBC
Anansi Boys is a companion novel to American Gods, focusing on side-characters from that novel. The BBC optioned this in early 2014 but no further news has been revealed. More recently, it was confirmed that the American Gods TV series will use material from Anansi Boys, suggesting that the BBC adaptation may no longer be happening.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Based on the Imperial Radch Trilogy (2013-15) • TV Series • Optioned by Fox
Anne Leckie's trilogy of Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy has been the big breakout space opera of the past three years, so it's unsurprising that it's been picked up by Fox TV. However, the trilogy's unusual gender definitions may make for a tricky adaptation. Here's hoping Fox don't just ignore them.
Discworld: The City Watch by Terry Pratchett
Based on Guards! Guards! (1989) and numerous sequels • TV Series • In development at Narrativia
The City Watch, or The Watch, is a proposed 13-episode TV series based on the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett, specifically those dealing with the Ankh-Morpork City Watch under the command of Sam Vimes. The proposed TV series would apparently, over the course of several seasons, both adapt those books (Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, The Fifth Elephant, Night Watch, Thud! and Snuff, arguably also Monstrous Regiment) and slot in "crime of the week" one-off episodes as well. Narrativia, a production company set up by Terry Pratchett himself in 2011 and now run by his daughter Rihanna (a respected writer in her own right), is handling the adaptation. The BBC was reportedly interested before significant budget cuts at the corporation kicked in. Narrativia are apparently looking at other partners to handle the series, but there have been no firm developments for over a year now.
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Based on The Forever War (1974) • Film • In development at Warner Brothers
The Forever War is widely regarded as one of the greatest SF novels ever written, a story about a war being fought so far away that, due to relativistic effects, centuries have passed on Earth in the meantime. Joe Haldeman's allegory about the Vietnam War and the pointlessness of conflict remains powerful. After years in development hell, with Ridley Scott nearly coming on board before backing off to make Prometheus, the film rights were won by Warner Brothers. Warners are fast-tracking the film and are trying to woo the attention of an undisclosed big-name director. Channing Tatum is attached to star in the film, a controversial choice before his well-received role in Foxcatcher suggested he was capable of handling more challenging material.
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Based on The Foundation Saga (1950-92) • TV Series • In development at HBO
HBO have optioned the rights to the seven novels in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. Set 22,000 years in the future, the series chronicles the collapse of the vast Galactic Empire and its descent into barbarism. It falls to a scientific community, the Foundation, to help guide humanity through the chaos to the rise of a new golden age centuries hence. To help them achieve this, the scientist Hari Seldon has developed a statistical system called "psychohistory", which allows them to predict the future based on the mass movements of people. However, the system is unable to predict the rise of powerful, unexpected individuals with the ability to command the loyalty of billions. When such a warlord arises, the Foundation is threatened as never before.
This planned adaptation has some heavyweight firepower behind it, with Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher) leading the project and HBO reportedly hoping this series will do for them and SF what Game of Thrones has done for epic fantasy. However, HBO has not commented on the project for over a year, suggesting it's on the backburner. Reportedly HBO spent a fortune to buy the rights from Sony (where Roland Emmerich was attached to direct), so it seems unlikely they'll let it languish away and go to another studio like they've done with so many recent projects (they've lost Dark Tower, American Gods and Preacher to Sony, Starz and AMC respectively, and may rue all three before long). That said, the books span over 500 years of history with no recurring characters throughout the whole series, which makes adapting them challenging.
Gateway by Frederik Pohl
Based on Gateway (1975) • TV series • In development at SyFy
Frederik Pohl's classic SF novel about alien contact and exploitation has been optioned by David Eick, who helped bring Battlestar Galactica back to the screeen. It was optioned at the same time as The Expanse and Childhood's End, which have both already aired, so this looks to have been moved to the backburner for now.
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
Based on Horrorstör (2014) • TV series • In development at Fox
Five employees at the ORSK furniture superstore decide to camp overnight in the store to find out who or what is damaging the place overnight. Shenanigans ensue. Fox snapped up the rights last year but has yet to move forward with it.
The House With a Clock in its Walls by Jonathan Bellairs
Based on The House with a Clock in its Walls (1973) • Film • In development at Mythology Entertainment
Mythology started developing a movie series about warlock Jonathan Barnavelt and his nephew four years ago alongside Supernatural Eric Kripke. Kripke's commitment to several other TV shows (including a new project called Time) is probably what's resulted in this being moved onto the backburner.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Based on The Hyperion Cantos (1989-90) • TV mini-series • In development at SyFy
Actor and producer Bradley Cooper (yes, that one) has been trying to get this made for years and finally gave up on a film series. It's now in development at SyFy instead, who are eyeing an event mini-series based on Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion (the Endymion sequel novels seem to have been left out, at least for now). The series, a far-future take on The Canterbury Tales, charts the journey of several pilgrims to the planet Hyperion where they plan to confront the Shrike, an enigmatic, bizarre alien entity. In the background, galactic war threatens.
These are two undisputed classics of the SF genre and an adaptation is certainly way past times, but the books explore bizarre themes, have some weird obsessions (like the poet Keats turning up as an android) and structural tics that will make turning them into a compelling TV series interesting.
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
Based on The Kingkiller Chronicle Trilogy (2007-present) • TV and film • In development at Lionsgate
Patrick Rothfuss's The Kingkiller Chronicle, comprising The Name of the Wind (2007), The Wise Man's Fear (2011) and The Doors of Stone (forthcoming), is the biggest and most successful debut epic fantasy series this century so far, so it's unsurprising that when it was optioned, it was optioned big. Lionsgate plan a trilogy of films directly based on the novels and a spin-off TV series focusing on other elements and characters. They also have the video game rights, and are looking at producing some tie-in games with Rothfuss's involvement. The scope of the project is impressive, but also imposing; it's unclear if a movie studio or TV company will be willing to take on a project of this scale. It may also be overambitious: if The Dark Tower, with almost four times the sales of Kingkiller, struggled to get on the screen, this package may be regarded as too expensive. However, I'd be shocked if we didn't have a Name of the Wind movie (if nothing else) on its way before too long.
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
Based on The Last Policeman (2012) • TV series • In development at CBS
CBS optioned this novel shortly after publication, but have not yet moved forwards with it. The premise is interesting: it is discovered that a massive asteroid is six months from colliding with Earth and ending all life on the planet. As chaos erupts, one cop decides to stay honest and keep investigating murders. It's a nice idea, but potentially limited, and possibly a little too similar to the film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, which debuted shortly after the option was taken out.
Lock In by John Scalzi
Based on Lock In (2014) • TV Series • In development at Legendary Television
John Scalzi is one of the most prominent SF authors around at the moment, and unsurprisingly he has several books in development. The premise of Lock In is that five million people suffer from a virus which paralyses them, but leaves their intellects intact. When one of the paralysed is murdered, an investigation is launched.
Luna by Ian McDonald
Based on Luna: New Moon (2015) • TV Series • In development at CBS
CBS, somewhat surprisingly, won a fierce bidding war for this novel (the first of a duology) last year before it was even published. The book features five powerful families battling for control of resources on the Moon some 100 years in the future. The almost inevitable tagline will be, "Game of Thrones on the Moon". Given the money CBS shelled out, it's likely that this will move forwards further. This is also a great deal for McDonald, the much-acclaimed Northern Irish author of numerous hard SF novels (such as River of Gods, itself optioned in the past).
MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood
Based on the MaddAddam trilogy (2003-13) • TV Series • In development at HBO
The author who once angrily rejected being an SF writer because her