There are incredible authors out there and remarkable screenwriters. But we can’t help but love the winning combination of an author/screenwriter. In most cases, the transition from author to screenwriter comes in the form of a novelist choosing to write (or co-write) the adaptation of their novel. From Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) to Emma Donoghue (Room), we’ve seen some incredible box office hits and even Oscar nominations come from this category of screenwriter. Book-to-screen translations driven by the original authors themselves, just have a special spark. So as we look to 2025 and beyond, these are the author-screenwriters we are watching (and waiting) to see what they come up with.
Chandler Baker, The Husbands and Oh. What. Fun.
Chandler Baker is a New York Times bestselling author and Reese’s Book Club pick. Her novel Whisper Network was devoured by readers and she’s also the author of six young adult novels. But her screenwriting debut is happening with her Stepford Wives-style novel The Husbands, starring Kristen Wiig. In addition to this adaptation, we can also expect to see one of her stories on screen in 2025 when her holiday comedy, Oh. What. Fun., comes to life. This Amazon MGM Studios production will star Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloë Grace Moretz and Dominic Sessa.
Emily Henry, Funny Story
Emily Henry has become a household name in the rom-com space. When she entered the scene with her romance debut, Beach Read, there was no turning back… for any of us. Every novel since has been optioned for film, but for the first time, we will be seeing a script from Emily herself. Her 2024 novel, Funny Story, will be the first of the adaptations where the #1 New York Times bestselling author will be writing the script. (See below for who will be handling some of her other adaptations.)
Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone
This incredible fantasy series debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and the ascension of Legacy of Orisha hasn’t slowed. Now that the trilogy completed in 2024, all eyes are on the adaptation. In a knockout deal with Paramount, Adeyemi secured a seven-figure screenwriting guarantee as well as creative approvals. There is also a guaranteed theatrical release as the team behind the adaptation plans for Hunger Games-esque appeal. Reports state that Adeyemi has already completed the first go at the script.
Rachel Koller Croft, Torn Hearts
Rachel Koller Croft is a screenwriter and author who is somewhat unique on this list as her screenwriting endeavors have not overlapped with her author life (yet). Her debut novel, Stone Cold Fox, was a huge hit and she recently released her latest novel, We Love the Nightlife. But her film accolade is for the original screenplay, Torn Hearts, a film starring Katey Sagal that blends Misery with country music. In an exclusive interview with She Writes, she expressed desire to adapt her existing books as well as new projects on the horizon, one being a novel the other being a screenplay she’s writing with her husband, both of which are “marriage thrillers”.
Nnedi Okorafor, Binti
Though the option for this book was announced years ago, it happened in the midst of 2020 and we can’t help but be hopeful that the post-pandemic rebound will assist in getting this adaptation of her African futuristic novella closer to the finish line over at Hulu. However, Binti isn’t the only story in play. Lagoon is also being adapted with Okorafor at the helm of the script.
Gillian Flynn, Dark Places
Though Gillian Flynn is not new to the TV and film space, she does potentially have a new project we are looking forward to. Her novel, Dark Places, will be getting its second adaptation. The first go around, the book was adapted into a film starring Charlize Theron in 2015. This time, it’s getting the same treatment as Sharp Objects with a limited series for HBO.
Yulin Kuang, People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read
Yulin Kuang is first and foremost a screenwriter who has the adaptation of two of Emily Henry’s books in her hands People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read (she will also direct Beach Read). In 2024 though, she released her own debut rom-com, How to End a Love Story, which was chosen for Reese’s Book Club in May. Though there’s no news yet about her plans to adapt her own novel, Yulin is well entrenched in both the book and film world of romance and everyone is eagerly awaiting the first of Emily Henry’s adaptations to hit the screen (hopefully we’ll get one in 2025). In addition to these two and Henry’s own screenplay for Funny Story, Happy Place is in the hands of Jennifer Lopez’s production company over at Netflix and Book Lovers was picked up by Tango. Get ready for a lot of Emily Henry.
Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet
In 2023, we got news that the New York Times bestselling novel was another step closer to the screen as Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley were announced to be in talks for the lead roles. Hamnet, the story of Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, enduring life after the loss of her son while being married to the world’s most famous writer, was not only a bestseller but also an award-winner. For the adaptation, Maggie O’Farrel will be co-writing the script with Chloé Zhao.
Carolyn Huynh, The Fortunes of Jaded Women
Carolyn Huynh 2022 novel was a Good Morning America Book Club pick, and in 2024, it was announced that The Fortunes of Jaded Women was slated to be adapted for television. Huynh will be partnering with Bekah Brunstetter for the script as fans eagerly await to see the Vietnamese family overcoming a curse after a psychic’s prediction in this charming and heart-filled debut.
Jessica Goodman, They’ll Never Catch Us
In a this young adult thriller, rising cross-country stars are competing for a ticket out of their small town when high school competition becomes a disappearance case. Jessica Goodman’s thriller is headed for Netflix and the script will be in the hands of Goodman and Juliet Lashinsky-Revene.
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