4 Beloved Classic Novels Are Getting Major New Screen Adaptations—from Austen to Steinbeck
From Pride and Prejudice to The Bell Jar, these beloved classics are getting new screen lives.
Key Takeaways
- Watch new adaptations: 'East of Eden' and 'Sense and Sensibility' coming in 2026.
- 'Pride and Prejudice' will arrive on Netflix on December 3, 2026.
- 'The Bell Jar' wrapped filming in 2026. A release date is predicted for 2027.
Some classic books never stay on the shelf for long. From the novels of Jane Austen to the works of Sylvia Plath, beloved stories have been adapted for the screen time and again, with each generation offering its own interpretation.
Now, several literary favorites are getting another turn in the spotlight, with new adaptations bringing familiar characters and stories back to the screen. Here’s a look at the classics being reimagined—and what we know about their latest versions.
‘East of Eden’
The 2026 adaptation of East of Eden will be the third major reimagining of the classic novel by John Steinbeck, focused more on Cathy Ames’ narrative. Starring Florence Pugh as Cathy, the limited series will follow her life after marrying Adam Trask (Christopher Abbott) and mothering twin sons. But when a manipulative and destructive side of Cathy is revealed, she leaves behind a legacy of betrayal. Meanwhile, the Trask family becomes intertwined with the Hamiltons, a nearby hardworking family, exploring the biblical parallel of Cain and Abel.
If you’ve been patiently waiting for East of Eden’s Netflix arrival, your patience will be rewarded when the series premieres on October 1, 2026.
‘Pride and Prejudice’
The classic Jane Austen novel, originally written in 1813, is about to be a Netflix success in the form of a six-part series starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet (Corrin) and her four sisters in 19th century England as they face the pressures of having to marry. When Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy (Lowden), a good candidate for marriage, they develop a mutual aversion for each other—until growing feelings get in the way and tamp down their (wait for it!)… pride and prejudices.
The Bennet household is shaping up to be quite the ensemble. Olivia Colman and Rufus Sewell will take on the roles of Mrs. and Mr. Bennet, with Freya Mavor playing eldest daughter Jane. Rounding out the five Bennet sisters are Rhea Norwood as the spirited Lydia, Hopey Parish as bookish Mary and Hollie Avery as youngest sister Kitty. The new Pride and Prejudice arrives on Netflix December 3, 2026, just in time to make Austen’s romance part of the holiday season.
‘The Bell Jar’
Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar is returning to the screen in 2027, with Billie Eilish making her feature-film acting debut as Esther Greenwood. A talented college student, Esther travels to New York after winning a prestigious guest editorship at a magazine, but what should be an exciting glimpse of her future instead leaves her increasingly disillusioned and disconnected. After returning home to Massachusetts, her mental health deteriorates as she struggles with depression, societal expectations and uncertainty about the life she’s supposed to want.
First published in 1963, Plath’s semi-autobiographical novel uses the image of a bell jar to capture Esther’s sense of being trapped and unable to escape her own thoughts. Its exploration of mental health, identity and the restrictive expectations placed on young women has helped make The Bell Jar an enduring literary classic.
While filming has recently wrapped, there is no release date for The Bell Jar just yet, but stay tuned to see the classic novel brought to life on the big screen.
‘Sense and Sensibility’
Following several other adaptations and reimaginings comes the feature film, Sense and Sensibility, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles. Based on Jane Austen’s 1811 novel, the film follows the three daughters and wife left behind after Mr. Dashwood’s passing. When the women move to a modest cottage, the two elder daughters, Elinor (Edgar-Jones) and Marianne (Creed-Miles), vie for the attention of several potential suitors and true love.
There have been quite a few adaptations of this classic already including the 1971 BBC Miniseries, the 1981 BBC TV series, a 1995 feature film, a 2008 BBC miniseries and a 2024 Hallmark reimagining. This film version of the classic, which has already had a theatrical release in the UK, is set to arrive in the US on October 16, 2026, so get ready to head to the theater.
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