Books Becoming Television Shows in 2022 - Part Two
In the first part of this article, we took a closer look at some of the bestselling novels that are receiving television adaptations in 2022. With books such as Anatomy of a Scandal, Conversations With Friends, The Essex Serpent, and Fire & Blood set to appear on the small screen it’s clear that television shows have no trouble attracting big names. In this second part, we will highlight a few more novels that fans can look forward to binge-watching in 2022 when they air as television shows.
The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien certainly needs no introduction and the influential books have already received acclaimed film adaptations by Peter Jackson. However, the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series will not be a direct continuation of the books or films. Instead, The Lord of the Rings; The Rings of Power, is primarily based on the appendices of the Lord of the Rings. These are set thousands of years before the events of the books and cover all of the historical events that took place during Middle-earth’s Second Age. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is set to debut in September of 2022, with a new episode released every week. It is one of the most expensive television series ever made and is expected to run for at least five seasons.
The Man Who Fell to Earth
by Walter Tevis
The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis is the story of an alien who is disguised as a human named Thomas Jerome Newton. Thomas is on a mission to save his people after their home planet, Anthea, was devastated by nuclear war, leaving it uninhabitable. He plans to amass a fortune by patenting Anthean technology and using it to build a spaceship able to ferry the last three hundred Anthean survivors to Earth. Unfortunately, things do not go according to plan and Tomas ends up abandoning his spaceship and sinking into alcoholism. The Man Who Fell to Earth was first published in 1963 and received a film adaptation in 1976, starring David Bowie. A new television series is set to debut on Showtime in April of 2022, starring Bill Nighy as Thomas Jerome Newton.
The Old Man
by Thomas Perry
The Old Man by Thomas Perry is the story of Dan Chase, who by all accounts, appears to be a harmless retiree in Vermont. However, Dan is not an ordinary sixty-year-old widower and has actually spent decades on the run. It all began thirty-five years ago when Chase was working as a young army intelligence hotshot. After being sent to covertly assist a rebel army in Libya things turned sour and Chase ended up triggering consequences he never could have anticipated. Afterward, someone wanted Chase dead and he has spent much of his life trying to escape what happened, only to find himself once again being targeted for assassination. The Old Man is being turned into a thriller television series for FX that is set to premiere in June of 2022 with Jeff Bridges playing the role of Dan Chase.
The Shining Girls
by Lauren Beukes
The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes is the story of a chilling serial killer who can move through time. Harper Curtis discovers this ability when he discovers a house in Depression-era Chicago that opens to other times. Through clues found in this house, Harper learns about certain girls who “shine” at different periods in history and makes it his mission to kill them. Kirby Mazrachi is the last shining girl but manages to survive after Harper tries to kill her. Her determination to bring him to justice causes Kirby to work with the reporter who covered her case. However, in the process she finds herself closing in on an impossible truth. The television show adaptation of Shining Girls is set to premiere on Apple TV+ in late April of 2022. Elisabeth Moss will star as Kirby Mazrachi while Jamie Bell has been cast as Harper Curtis.
The Terminal List
by Jack Carr
The Terminal List by Jack Carr sees Lieutenant Commander James Reece lose his entire team in a catastrophic ambush during his last combat deployment. Then, when the Navy SEAL finds those dearest to him murdered on the day of his homecoming he realizes that it wasn’t a foreign enemy behind it all. Instead, Reece discovers a conspiracy that runs at the highest levels of government. With his team and family gone, Reece has nothing left to live for except to make those responsible pay for what they have done. The television series adaptation of The Terminal List is set for release on Amazon Prime Video in July of 2022. Chris Pratt is in the starring role as James Reece along with cast members that include Taylor Kitsch, Constance Wu, and Patrick Schwarzenegger.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
by Audry Niffenegger
The Time Traveler’s Wife is a very untraditional love story by Audry Niffenegger. It tells the tale of a dashing, adventurous librarian, named Henry DeTamble, who inadvertently travels through time. Henry falls in love with an artist named Clare Abshire, whose life takes a natural sequential course in comparison to his own. However, their love endures across a sea of time despite the unusual challenges that they face.
