Which 2022 Thriller Novels Were Adapted Or Optioned For Screen?

2026-07-22 11:11:51
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7 Answers

AvaLane
AvaLane
Spoiler Watcher Analyst
I'm always skeptical of the 'optioned for film by a major studio' news when it's a debut author. Sometimes it's a legit bidding war, but sometimes it feels like a publicity stunt by the publisher to generate buzz for the book itself. 'Optioned' can mean anything from a serious seven-figure deal to a producer paying a low five-figure sum to hold the rights for a year. The headline is the same, but the reality is very different.
2026-07-23 04:37:10
9
VeraByrd
VeraByrd
Responder Assistant
Here's a hot take: the best thriller adaptations often come from books that aren't overly complicated. A super convoluted plot with twenty twists might be fun to read, but it's a nightmare to adapt coherently. The 2022 books that got picked were likely ones with a strong, simple emotional through-line and a clear central mystery, even if there are surprises. 'The Housemaid' is basically: down-on-her-luck woman takes a job in a rich house, weird stuff happens. Easy to pitch, easy to structure a season of TV around.
2026-07-23 08:19:30
10
DeanDay
DeanDay
Ending Guesser Driver
Does an option even matter to the average reader? Not really. It matters to the author's bank account and career, which is great. But for us? It just means maybe in 3-5 years we'll get a show that may or may not be good. I'd rather just focus on whether the book itself is a page-turner. 'The Drift' by C.J. Tudor (2022, dystopian thriller) was one for me— relentlessly tense. Option or not, it did its job.
2026-07-24 19:02:09
10
OwenBerry
OwenBerry
Honest Reviewer Veterinarian
You know what's funny? I often find out a book was adapted by stumbling onto the movie or show first. I watched 'The Woman in the Window' ages before I knew it was a book. So for all we know, some 2022 thriller is quietly being filmed right now, and we won't hear about it until the teaser drops. The whole process is so opaque unless you're actively tracking trade publications.
2026-07-25 17:12:31
2
Josephine
Josephine
Reviewer Student
Okay, let's be real for a second. Half the time, 'optioned' just means some producer bought the rights to keep them away from a competitor, and we'll never hear about it again. It's like a trophy on a shelf. I get excited when I see the news, but after years of seeing my favorite books languish (looking at you, 'Dark Matter' pre-2023!), I've become deeply cynical.

That said, 2022 did have some solid picks that might actually happen. 'The Club' by Ellery Lloyd? That's 'The White Lotus' meets a members-only club, with murder. Already feels like a TV show. 'The It Girl' by Ruth Ware is pure classic Ware—atmospheric, twisty, set in Oxford. Both got TV deals. I'll believe it when I see a trailer, but the source material is definitely adaptable.
2026-07-25 17:45:05
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