10 Upcoming Book Adaptations To Watch If You Love Reacher

Though the wait for season 3 may be agonizing, Reacher fans can look forward to plenty of new and exciting upcoming book adaptations for more action-packed drama. In the ever-growing world of crime thrillers, few other characters have captured the attention of readers and viewers quite like Jack Reacher. Lee Child’s creation, a former military police officer, has become synonymous with gripping suspense and adrenaline-pumping action. Luckily, a new slate of thrilling book adaptations is poised to make its way to the screen.

Amazon Studios’ Reacher was the adaptation book readers always wanted. Now, fans of the show can look forward to adaptations like Reacher that capture similar thrills. Whether it’s the complex characters, the fast-paced intensity of the show, or the sheer unpredictability of the plot, these soon-to-be movies and TV series are bound to resonate with those who relish all things crime. Each adaptation, with its unique take on the thriller and crime genres, promises to be perfect for audiences seeking Reacher-style suspense and drama.

10 The Plot

Based on the book The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Starring Mahershala Ali, The Plot is an upcoming psychological thriller for Hulu. The story follows Jake, an author struggling with his career, who resorts to stealing another writer’s work. When his secret is threatened, Jake goes to extreme lengths to protect his new life. With its blend of moral ambiguity and escalating tension, The Plot is set to be a captivating series, likely showcasing Ali’s talent in a story about desperation and lies. Although there is no set release date, this show is one to watch.

9 Fool Me Once

Based on the book Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

Fool Me Once is an upcoming British series for Netflix that revolves around Maya, a recent widow who inexplicably spots her murdered husband on her home security footage. He’s back – but as an intruder. With its blend of shocking twists and interwoven crimes, this series is slated to have the gripping intrigue and suspenseful storytelling that makes Reacher so great. Given the novel’s inclusion of trigger warnings, there’s speculation about whether it’s a thriller book too dark for screen adaptation. However, as it has been given the green light, it seems like the issue has been resolved, which is good news for fans of darker crime stories.

8 The Sympathizer

Based on the book The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Produced by A24 and Rhombus Media for HBO, The Sympathizer is an up-and-coming espionage series that is bound to make waves with audiences. The series follows an unnamed Vietnamese communist double agent navigating a new life in Los Angeles while reporting back to Vietnam. The novel has been described as having the pace of a thriller, but with a darkly comedic bent. With Park Chan-wook, director of the Korean action-thriller Old Boy, attached as co-showrunner, this new HBO TV series has the potential to be one of the best upcoming shows of 2024.

7 Cold Storage

Based on the book Cold Storage by David Koepp

Cold Storage is an upcoming thriller film set to star Liam Neeson and Joe Keery. The film revolves around the crisis that unfolds when a dangerous fungus escapes a government lab and causes global chaos. What sets this film apart is that the original novel and script for the film were written by the screenwriter of Jurassic Park, David Koepp. Liam Neeson’s new film guarantees plenty of nail-biting suspense. If it sticks closely to the book, the film will most likely focus on the high stakes of a potentially apocalyptic situation. This sets the stage for a tension-filled story, and with Liam Neeson attached, plenty of action.

6 Presumed Innocent

Based on the book Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

Apple TV+’s new legal thriller, Presumed Innocent, will star Jake Gyllenhaal in the series adaptation of Scott Turow’s renowned suspense novel. This will be the second adaptation of the book, the first appearing on screens in 1990 with Harrison Ford. The series will follow a prosecutor who finds himself the main suspect in the homicide case of a fellow prosecutor. If the show stays faithful to the book, the story will most likely plunge into the darkest corners of crime, where an unsuspecting man can face the most heinous criminal accusations. Expect plenty of twists, and with Jake Gyllenhaal attached, expect lots of fantastic, gripping performances. There’s no release day yet, but crime thriller fans need to add Presumed Innocent to their watchlist.

5 A Man in Full

Based on the book A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe

Courtroom crime thriller fans should keep an eye out for A Man in Full, the upcoming limited series for Netflix based on Tom Wolfe’s novel of the same name. Set in Atlanta, the drama follows Charlie Croker, a real estate magnate facing bankruptcy. The show is set against the backdrop of a racially charged trial impacting both the city’s elite and its underprivileged citizens. There’s a wealth of ways this series could explore different crime thriller dynamics in new and exciting ways. The release date is yet to be announced, but it promises to be a highly compelling watch with its source material and may even become one of the best crime drama shows based on a novel.

4 Murder is Easy

Based on the book Murder is Easy By Agatha Christie

Nicknamed “The Queen of Crime,” Agatha Christie knows a thing or two about writing a gripping and suspenseful crime thriller. The newest adaptation of her novel, Murder is Easy, stars David Jonsson as Luke Fitzwilliam for the BBC, and it promises to be just as exciting to watch as her novel is to read. The story follows Fitzwilliam as he tracks a serial killer after encountering a woman on a train to London, racing to stop the murderer before he strikes again. Both lovers of murder mysteries and crime thrillers will have plenty to enjoy in this upcoming adaption of Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy.

3 A Time For Mercy

Based on the book A Time for Mercy: A Jake Brigance Novel by John Grisham

Matthew McConaughey will return to his breakout role from A Time to Kill in an upcoming HBO series adaptation of John Grisham’s A Time For Mercy. McConaughey is set to reprise his role as defense attorney Jake Brigance in the adaptation of Grisham’s third book about Brigance. The courtroom drama will follow a tense trial where Brigance defends a teenager accused of murder. With McConaughey’s return to HBO following his acclaimed role in True Detective, the draw for A Time for Mercy is inevitable. Audiences can most likely expect a gripping crime drama with stellar performances and a captivating moral premise. But, they may have to wait a while as HBO has yet to announce a release date for the series.

2 The Amateur

Based on the book The Amateur by Robert Littell

The Amateur will be the second adaption of Robert Littell’s novel, with the first having previously graced the screen in 1981. This new adaptation of the espionage thriller follows Jodie Charles Heller, a CIA cryptographer, after he loses his wife in a London terrorist attack. Frustrated by his bosses’ inaction, he blackmails the agency to train him for a personal revenge mission. This revenge-filled story will star Rami Malek as Charles Heller, leaving the character in exceptionally good hands. A leading protagonist filled with rage and a need to avenge his wife, no matter who gets in the way, will certainly produce thrilling action sequences that fans of Reacher will enjoy.

1 Force of Nature: The Dry 2

Based on the book Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is an upcoming Australian mystery thriller and sequel to The Dry, based on Jane Harper’s book of the same name. If the sequel proves to be as intriguing and suspenseful as the first film, fans of Reacher will have plenty to enjoy. The story follows Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk’s investigation into the disappearance of a female hiker. As he delves deeper into the case, it leads him to suspect more dangerous and darker truths surrounding her disappearance. Like Jack Reacher, Aaron Falk is a character with a complicated past and a strong sense of justice. This story offers an intriguing blend of mystery for audiences to dive into.