If you’ve ever finished a book and thought, Why hasn’t anyone made this into a movie? – you’re not alone.
Some stories are just begging for the big screen: larger-than-life worlds, unforgettable characters, and emotional journeys that stay with you long after the final page.
Hollywood has been leaning heavily on remakes and reboots lately, but it’s sitting on a treasure trove of epic novels just waiting to be adapted, or re-adapted, this time with care.
Here are 12 epic books that deserve the movie treatment. Some have never made it past development hell, while others had their shot and… well, deserve a second chance.
1. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Think Ocean’s Eleven meets Game of Thrones. This fantasy heist novel is packed with witty dialogue, clever scams, and one of the most likable anti-heroes in modern fiction. Fans have been hoping for an HBO-style series for years, and it’s still somehow stuck in limbo.
2. Hyperion by Dan Simmons
It’s sprawling. It’s poetic. It’s weird in the best way. Hyperion tells six interconnected tales through different narrators as a group of pilgrims journey to meet a mysterious, deadly creature called the Shrike. Done right, it could be the next Dune.
3. The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
If you want epic, this series defines the word. With magical swords, political intrigue, and complex world-building, Stormlight feels tailor-made for a big-budget streaming series. And given how massive the books are, it would need several seasons, and probably a billion-dollar budget.
4. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Dragons, queendoms, and queerness, all wrapped into a beautifully crafted feminist fantasy. The scope is cinematic, and the characters are rich and memorable. Fans of House of the Dragon would devour this as a film or limited series.
5. Good Omens (Again)
Yes, Good Omens already has a TV adaptation, but let’s be honest, it could also thrive as a wildly stylized feature film. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s apocalyptic comedy deserves a big-screen reimagining with the right cast and tone.
6. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
Grimdark meets vampire lore in a world where the sun hasn’t risen in nearly three decades. It’s bloody, tragic, and epic in every sense. A visually stunning R-rated adaptation could be a cult hit, think The Witcher meets Interview with the Vampire.
7. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Yes, we know. Hollywood has been circling this story for years. Lin-Manuel Miranda was even attached to the music. But somehow, The Kingkiller Chronicle still hasn’t made it to the screen. Kvothe’s journey deserves a faithful, slow-burn adaptation that focuses on mood as much as magic.
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book feels like a movie, with lush descriptions, dreamy settings, and a romance that unfolds in a magical competition. If done right, it could become a modern fantasy classic on screen, part love story, part spectacle.
9. The Power by Naomi Alderman
What if women developed the power to shoot electricity from their hands, and the balance of power shifted across the world? It’s part thriller, part social commentary, and the themes are more relevant than ever. While a Prime Video series exists, it didn’t land as powerfully as it could have. A tighter, darker film version could hit harder.
10. The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
Jemisin’s Hugo-winning series blends geology with magic in a post-apocalyptic world like no other. Its themes, survival, oppression, and motherhood, are incredibly cinematic. If adapted with care, it could be as impactful as The Last of Us.
11. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Imagine Hunger Games, Spartacus, and Ender’s Game had a gritty, brutal baby. Red Rising is fast-paced, violent, and full of political twists. It practically screams for a movie franchise, and for years, fans have been begging for one.
12. American Gods (But Let’s Try Again)
The Starz adaptation had its moments, but Gaiman’s mythology-filled road trip story still hasn’t gotten the definitive treatment it deserves. Picture a moody, noir-style film with a strong director and tighter focus – American Gods could finally live up to its potential.
Why These Stories Matter
Epic fiction isn’t just about big battles or world-ending stakes. At its core, it’s about characters who grow and break and rise again. These books explore loyalty, love, revenge, power, and what it means to be human, all things that make for unforgettable cinema.
We’re living in a time where content is constantly recycled. Maybe it’s time studios took a deeper dive into the shelves of your local bookstore.
Because the next big blockbuster? It might already be written.