by Erin Poche`
It’s always exciting to see your favorite book recreated into a motion picture; occasionally, it’s a let-down, but more often than not, streaming services have had megahits like Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel, HBO’s House of the Dragon, and Netflix’s Shadow and Bones. Whether you’re into dystopian adventures, graphic novels or romantic fantasies, you’ll have plenty of choices of Young Adult Fantasy book adaptations coming to a big or small screen this year.
Since movies can’t include the entire backstory and side plots, reading the book first is best, of course. And if you’re a die-hard book lover, the books are always better because your imagination shifts into overdrive. Then watching the book come to life on the silver screen is a bit like Dorothy stepping out of the black and white Kansas and into the technicolor land of Oz. So read and catch up here on these dynamic stories coming to life. Here’s a look at six Young Adult Fantasy book adaptations in 2023 and beyond.
Six Young Adult Fantasy Books Coming to the Big and Small Screen in 2023
Shadow and Bones (Season 2) Netflix
by Leigh Bardugo
There’s magic, monsters, and mayhem in Shadow and Bones season 2, the bestselling YA fantasy novel by Leigh Bardugo. It hit the streaming service in late March. Alina Starkov is back to beat Kirigan at his own dirty game. Alina must face off with his Shadow army and defeat the Darkling once and for all.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
by Suzanne Collins
by Suzanne Collins
Ready for another uber blockbuster Hunger Games? Suzanne Collins’ prequel is getting a lot of attention. Director Francis Lawrence returns with a cast of heavy hitters like actor Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman and Viola Davis. The film also features Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer and Tom Blyth stars as the young Coriolanus Snow. With the drama of the 10th annual Hunger Games, the prequel hosts the same spectacle, backstabbing, and a much darker Panem love story. Watch how the vile games began and find out who is a songbird and who is a snake. In Theaters November 17, 2023.
Red Queen
By Victoria Aveyard
“A red girl in a sea of silvers.” The long-awaited adaptation of Victoria Aveyard Red Queen is finally coming to life. The New York Times bestselling sweeping tale of a power-hungry caste system filled with intrigue and betrayal is set to hit NBC’s Peacock streaming service and run as a series. Elizabeth Banks will produce, direct and act in the show. Other big names include Sean Bean, Timothee Chalamet, Zoe Kravitz and Millie Bobby Brown as Mare Barrow.
The Upper World
By Femi Fadugba
The Upper World is a heat-pulsing YA novel from Femi Fadugba that follows two teens, a generation apart, on a twisting, time-traveling mind-bending adventure. The film adaptation is slated to hit the Netflix streaming service later this year, starring actor Daniel Kaluuya.
Fun Fact: Netflix optioned to buy the debut novel before it hit the shelves.
Anansi Boys
by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s international bestseller Anansi Boys, the second in his American Gods series, is soon coming to the small screen. The six-episode limited series follows the success of American Gods and Good Omens. Gaiman is no stranger to adaptations. His work includes the comic series The Sandman and the novels Stardust, Coraline and The Graveyard Book. Fans can expect to see the adaptation on Amazon Prime later this year.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
By Sarah J. Maas
Probably the most highly anticipated YA sci-fi book-to-screen is A Court of Thorns and Roses. Key in a world of magic, double-crossing royals, swashbuckling adventure and romance, and you’ve got a surefire hit. The first book in the series by Sarah J. Maas is set to run as a television series on Hulu. Showrunner Ron Moore of the acclaimed fantasy hit Outlander and Battlestar Galactica is involved with bringing ACOTAR to the screen. Maas and Moore co-adapted the tv show for Hulu. The two wrote the pilot together, so prepare for a smash hit.
