3 Science Fiction Books Coming Out In 2026 That Already Need Movie or TV Adaptations

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As a huge sci-fi fan, I’ve been really impressed with how well some book adaptations have turned out lately. Think about The Martian and Project Hail Mary – both fantastic movies! And Blade Runner 2049, which built on the already iconic film based on Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, is now considered a modern classic. Even Ready Player One in 2018 managed to capture the spirit of the book with Spielberg’s touch. It got me wondering, are there any new books hitting shelves in the next few months that could become the next big sci-fi movie hit?

Here are three upcoming science fiction novels, scheduled for release in the next few months, that have strong potential for adaptation into films or television series. They follow a similar path to Platform Decay, a new installment in The Murderbot Diaries series, which has already inspired an Apple TV show starring Alexander Skarsgård.

3) The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu (April 7th)

Until now, John Chu has only published short stories, many of which have received critical acclaim and awards. His story, “If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You,” won both Nebula and Hugo Awards. He also received a Hugo Award in 2013 for “The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere.”

He’s now releasing his debut novel, The Subtle Art of Folding Space, and it’s full of compelling ideas for a film. The story centers on a physicist caught in a difficult situation: she’s trying to save the planet with a device that’s also keeping her mother alive. Adding to the drama, the main character, Ellie, is constantly threatened by her own sister who is trying to kill her.

2) The Franchise by Thomas Elrod (May 12th)

This novel, The Franchise, is written by an author known for short stories, and it’s about the process of turning a book into a movie.

The Malicarn is a popular fantasy story, now a film series. Within the story, the world of Malicarn feels completely real to its inhabitants. One well-loved actor playing a character from the series believes the studio is making questionable choices about the franchise, and he’s struggling with how to support the fictional people of Malicarn who simply want to live their lives.

1) Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim (June 2nd)

Finally, we have Isabel J. Kim’s novel, Sublimation. Like the other books discussed, this is Kim’s first novel, though she’s been publishing short stories for five years. While her short story “Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” earned a Nebula Award, Sublimation appears to be her most ambitious and promising work so far.

The story of Sublimation centers around the idea that when someone immigrates to a new country, a duplicate of themselves remains behind. Similar to adopted children and their birth parents, these duplicates sometimes try to connect. Soyoung Rose Kang left Korea years ago, and now she’s back following her grandfather’s death. She’s never met her ‘copy,’ but the version of herself still in Korea is plotting to steal Kang’s life. While the premise might remind some of the movie Us, the story’s unique cultural angle makes it a promising project. Universal International Studios purchased the rights to the book as part of a three-book deal, but there haven’t been any updates recently. We’re highlighting it now, with the book’s release approaching, in hopes that the project will move forward.

If you could turn any book published in 2026 into a movie or TV series, what would it be? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-31 00:15