Story to Screen Report - 26/08/26

Another week, another huge round of Story to Screen news! From exciting new adaptations and casting updates to fresh trailers and some very intriguing projects in the works, there’s plenty happening across the worlds of books, movies and TV. Here’s everything you need to know from the week.

We’ve got our first look at Amy Poehler and Hugh Laurie in ‘Dig’, the new Peacock series based on Kate Myers’ bestselling novel ‘Excavations’. The 10-episode comedy follows a group of archaeologists at a dig in Greece who uncover an artifact that pulls them into an international conspiracy. It also reunites Poehler with ‘Parks and Recreation’ creator Mike Schur, and all 10 episodes will arrive on November 23.

Peacock’s live-action ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ series has found its showrunners, with ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ writer Chris Yost and ‘Arrival’ and ‘Shadow and Bone’ creator Eric Heisserer teaming up to lead the adaptation. Based on Matt Dinniman’s hugely popular LitRPG series, the story follows Carl and Princess Donut as they fight to survive a deadly intergalactic game show after an alien invasion. Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door is producing, and audiobook narrator Jeff Hays is already set to play Princess Donut.

The big-screen adaptation of Virginia Feito’s ‘Victorian Psycho’ has moved from September to a new November 13 release date, putting it right in the middle of awards season. Maika Monroe stars as the eccentric and increasingly sinister governess Winifred Notty, alongside Thomasin McKenzie, Ruth Wilson and Jason Isaacs. Feito adapted her own novel for the screen, with Zachary Wigon directing the gothic horror.

E.L. Westbury’s domestic thriller ‘Drowning in Paper Flowers’ is heading to the small screen, with ‘Black Cake’ creator Marissa Jo Cerar developing the adaptation alongside Jenna Bush Hager’s Thousand Voices and Universal Global Television. The story follows seemingly perfect Dallas housewife Ruby Powell as her carefully constructed life begins to unravel, involving an affair, a dead body and a long-held secret. The book has had quite the journey too, originally self-published before sparking a competitive auction and landing a seven-figure publishing deal.

Lily James and Ron Perlman are set to star in Amazon MGM Studios’ horror thriller ‘Seasons’, based on Matt Query and Harrison Query’s novel ‘Old Country’. The story follows a couple who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is cursed, with a sinister spirit returning in increasingly disturbing ways as the seasons change. Drew Hancock is directing the adaptation.

Universal Pictures is developing an adaptation of Forrest Brazeal’s upcoming debut novel ‘Paradox Inc.’, with Oscar-winning ‘Navalny’ filmmaker Daniel Roher set to direct and ‘Project Hail Mary’ duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller producing. The sci-fi story follows a scrappy startup and a dysfunctional Big Tech company racing to create the world’s first consumer time machine, with control of reality potentially up for grabs. The book itself isn’t even out yet, with publication set for January 2027, so Hollywood is getting in very early on this one!

Michael Lockshin’s adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s classic novel ‘The Master and Margarita’ is finally getting a theatrical release on September 18. The film follows a censored writer in 1930s Moscow who begins writing a novel in which the Devil arrives to wreak havoc on the bureaucrats who wronged him. After becoming the highest-grossing 18+ release in Russian history despite censorship attempts, the film will now reach worldwide audiences in its restored director’s cut.

The trailer for season six of ‘Slow Horses’ has arrived, and it looks like Slough House is in serious trouble, with mysterious assassins working their way through a list of its members. Spoiler alert! The biggest surprise comes right at the end of the trailer, with a familiar face appearing that fans definitely weren’t expecting to see again. So if you want to go in knowing nothing, don’t watch the trailer! Based on Mick Herron’s ‘Joe Country’ and ‘Slough House’, the new season premieres September 16.

Annabel Monaghan’s ‘Dolly All the Time’ is officially getting a movie adaptation, with Sony’s 3000 Pictures snapping up the rights in a competitive deal and ‘My Lady Jane’ creator Gemma Burgess set to write the screenplay. The romance follows single mum Dolly Brick, who agrees to a fake relationship with wealthy Stewart Whitfield, only for things to start feeling very real. No casting news yet, so let the fan casting begin!

J.L. Seegars' popular 'New Haven' romance novels are being developed into a TV series, with 'Restore Me' and 'Revive Me' optioned by British production company Hill 5.14. The interconnected books follow several couples and their relationships over 12 years, exploring love, healing and second chances, with Phoebe Okeowo adapting the story for television. Interestingly, the books' fictional South Carolina setting will be swapped for the UK in the series.

Harlan Coben’s upcoming ‘Myron Bolitar’ adaptation is set to do something none of his previous Netflix shows have done: continue beyond one season. Coben says the plan is to turn his 12-book series into an ongoing show, rather than another limited series. Colin Woodell will star as sports agent Myron, alongside KJ Apa as Win Lockwood and Diane Guerrero as Esperanza Diaz, with the series currently in production.

We’ve got our first look at Edward Bluemel as Agatha Christie’s iconic detective in the upcoming origin series ‘Hercule’. The six-part series is currently filming in Liverpool and will draw on three of Christie’s early stories, exploring a younger Poirot as he meets future friends, allies and one particular nemesis. Bluemel, at 33, is the youngest actor ever to take on the famous role, with the series expected in 2027.

The full trailer has arrived for LAIKA’s ‘Wildwood’, the stop-motion adaptation of Colin Meloy’s bestselling fantasy novel, illustrated by Carson Ellis. The story follows Prue as she ventures into a mysterious hidden forest to rescue her baby brother after he’s carried away by a murder of crows. Featuring the voices of Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali and more, the hugely ambitious film hits New Zealand cinemas on October 22.

There’s been a major casting shake-up at HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ series, with Kit Harington stepping in as Gilderoy Lockhart after Nicholas Hoult exited due to scheduling conflicts. It’s a fitting replacement, as the ‘Game of Thrones’ star has already played Lockhart, voicing him in the full-cast audiobook of ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’. Harington will make his Hogwarts debut in season two, which is set to begin filming this autumn.

And that’s another week of Story to Screen wrapped up! There’s plenty more coming our way, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on all the adaptations, casting announcements and trailers as they drop. Check back next week for another round-up of everything taking our favourite stories from page to screen.