From literary classics to contemporary favorites, books have always served as a major inspiration for Hollywood. But while some books are perfect for
From literary classics to contemporary favorites, books have always served as a major inspiration for Hollywood. But while some books are perfect for film adaptations, some are better suited for the miniature screen. Television and streaming have seen some of the greatest works in contemporary and classic literature being translated to the screen, sometimes reimagined, and sometimes directly adapted.
From literary legends Leo Tolstoy to current icons like Margaret Atwood and John le Carré, authors from different eras and genres have had their work take the shape of remarkable productions and great performances. Unfortunately, not all such shows remain timeless or become mainstream pop-culture sensations like The Lord of the Rings or The Handmaid’s Tale. Here’s our handpicked selection of near-perfect book-to-TV adaptations that sadly nobody remembers.
1
‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ (1979)
Alec Guinness as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyImage via BBC
Directed by John Irvin and written by Arthur Hopcraft for the BBC, 1979’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the first visual adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, featuring the grizzled MI6 spymaster, George Smiley. The series follows the retired agent, who is brought back to MI6 after the death of the head of the British Secret Service, as he attempts to catch a Russian double agent. Alec Guinness stars as Smiley, with Michael Jayston, Anthony Bate, George Sewell, and Patrick Stewart in notable roles.
In its day, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was considered a masterpiece of spy fiction on TV and was lauded for Guinness’s perfect depiction of Smiley and its faithfulness to the original story. Unfortunately, the 1979 series has since skipped audience memory, with the 2011 film adaptation taking its place as the more acclaimed and popular adaptation. However, with its intricate production and timely depiction of the 1970s Cold War-era sentiments, the seven-part BBC series will always remain a television landmark and one of the finest screen translations of John le Carré’s spy classics.
2
‘Alias Grace’ (2017)
Sarah Gadon as Grace Marks sitting on her cot in her prison cell facing the right stone wall, with sunlight streaming through the window onto her, in Alias GraceImage via Sarah Gadon
Created by Sarah Polley and adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel, Alias Grace follows Grace Marks, a 16-year-old Irish immigrant and housemaid in mid-1800s Canada, who is accused of killing her employer. Her case takes a modern turn when a newborn psychiatrist, Thomas Jordan, is assigned to evaluate her mental state to determine if she should be pardoned. The series stars Sarah Gadon as the titular character, with Paul Gross, Anna Paquin, Edward Holcroft, Zachary Levi, and David Cronenberg in key roles.
The six-part Canadian drama miniseries brings life to Atwood’s remarkable interpretation of true events from 1843 and is a current television masterpiece. The narrative beautifully blurs the lines between fiction and reality, leaving the audience with ambiguity, thus doing every bit of justice to the original historical fiction story. But despite its incredible production values, powerful acting, and engaging storytelling, Alias Grace has remained an underrated gem and an eclectic favorite, never achieving mainstream success.
3
‘Station Eleven’ (2021)
MacKenzie Davis reading the Station Eleven comic book in a rainy tent in Station Eleven.Image via HBO Max
Based on Emily St. John Mandel’s novel, Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic dystopian series by Patrick Somerville that centers on a devastating flu pandemic that causes the collapse of civilization. Twenty years after the catastrophic events, the story intertwines the lives of a group of survivors: a nomadic theater group, a renowned actor, and an aspiring artist. Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler, David Wilmot, Nabhaan Rizwan, Daniel Zovatto, and Lori Petty star in the main roles.
A story about a pandemic that upended life across the world, Station Eleven could not have been timelier, serving as a hopeful, reassuring approach to survival. A subtle, ponderous reflection on life, art, and memory, the series thrives on its balanced narrative of sci-fi elements, grim motifs, and artistic pursuits. One of the most perfect sci-fi miniseries to watch on HBO, Station Eleven earned critical acclaim and garnered a dedicated following during its run, but it was soon forgotten amid other mainstream shows and miniseries on the network.
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz
Which MCU Hero Are You?
Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
Spider-Man
Daredevil
Iron Man
Punisher
Thor
Cap
FIND YOUR HERO →
01
What drives you to do what’s right?
Choose the answer that feels most like you.
AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can’t protect themselves.
BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the obscure.
CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I’ve learned that others depend on me now.
DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay.
EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms.
FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you?
Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood.
BRunning rooftops in Hell’s Kitchen, listening for trouble.
CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a frosty cup of coffee nearby.
DStaking out a target I’ve been tracking for three weeks.
ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand.
FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn’t sleep.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice?
Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again.
BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside.
CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins.
DMake sure they don’t escape a third time. Permanently.
EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end.
FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it’s demanding.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity?
The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am.
BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face.
COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I’d do it again.
DI’m a ghost. The less people know about me, the better.
EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There’s no hiding it.
FI don’t hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
You’ve lost someone essential because of your heroism. How do you carry that?
Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day.
BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting.
CI buried myself in work for years. I’m only recently learning to face it.
DIt transformed me completely. I’m not the same person I was before.
EWith warrior’s grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have.
FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
What’s your role when working with a team?
Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up.
BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most.
CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation.
DI don’t do teams. I’m more effective operating solo, on my terms.
EThe hefty hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle.
FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge?
The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
AClearly — I don’t kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly.
BI try to hold the line, but I’ve come terrifyingly close to crossing it.
CPractically — I do what’s necessary to protect people, including demanding calls.
DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won’t admit it.
EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic.
FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like?
The person behind the mask is always the more compelling story.
ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends.
BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets.
CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I’m sleeping enough.
DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions.
ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary.
FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly.
NEXT QUESTION →
09
What keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re candid about what you’re actually afraid of.
AThe people I couldn’t save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow.
BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too.
CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough.
DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I’ve made my choices.
EWhether I’m truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect.
FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing.
NEXT QUESTION →
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do?
This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything.
BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going.
CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan.
DI don’t accept that it’s lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore.
ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me.
FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it’s not over.
REVEAL MY HERO →
Your Hero Has Been Identified
Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — humorous, true, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
- You do the right thing not because it’s straightforward, but because no one else will.
- You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
- Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
- Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
- You operate every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
- You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been straightforward.
- Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
- Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
- You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
- You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
- Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
- You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
- You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
- You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
- Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
- Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
- You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
- You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
- Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
- You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
- You don’t bully the miniature guy, and you never stop when it gets demanding.
- Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
- Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
- In a world full of people taking the straightforward road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
4
‘Shetland’ (2013–Present)
Doug Henshall in ShetlandImage via BBC
A British crime drama by David Kane, adapted from Ann Cleeves’s novel collection of the same name, Shetland is set in the titular Scottish archipelago and follows local Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez and his true sergeants as they investigate all kinds of crimes within the community. The show’s later seasons center on DI Ruth Calder, who replaces Perez as the series lead. Douglas Henshall, Ashley Jensen, Alison O’Donnell, Steven Robertson, Julie Graham, and Mark Bonnar play the main roles.
While the first two seasons of Shetland are direct adaptations of four books in Cleeves’ The Four Seasons Quartet, the following seasons are exclusively original storylines, which largely change the overall impact of the show. However, the grim and gritty crime thriller appeals with its powerful characters, compelling performances, and distinctive Nordic Noir aesthetic. Since its premiere in 2013, Shetland has been widely acclaimed, earning several accolades, and yet, it has remained quite a niche show with a miniature but dedicated fan following.
5
‘Little Fires Everywhere’ (2020)
Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon standing together looking tense in Little Fires EverywhereImage via Hulu
Created by Liz Tigelaar from Celeste Ng’s novel of the same name, Little Fires Everywhere centers on Elena Richardson, a perfect suburban mother and landlady, and Mia Warren, a single mother with a teenage daughter and a mysterious past who moves to an Ohio suburb. When Elena offers Mia a home and a job as her housekeeper, their lives and those of their children become a complicated entanglement, upending the Richardsons’ seemingly perfect lives. Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington star as the central characters, with Joshua Jackson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jade Pettyjohn, Lexi Underwood, and Megan Stott in key roles.
Anchored by fiery performances by Witherspoon and Washington, Little Fires Everywhere is as perfect as a miniseries can be, where every episode is deep and thoughtful. A powerful and incisive show, it raises and addresses tough questions about identity, race, and class dynamics, not to mention the complexities of motherhood. While the show made waves during its 2020 premiere and became Hulu’s most-watched series at the time, Little Fires Everywhere has since become quite niche and has not been a subject of mainstream pop-culture conversations.
6
‘The Shannara Chronicles’ (2016–2017)
Austin Butler clasping his hands sitting against a tree in the Shannara Chronicles.Image via MTV
A post-apocalyptic fantasy created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, The Shannara Chronicles is a series adaptation of the novel trilogy The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. The series, set in the fictional Four Lands, centers on three heroes who embark on a perilous quest with the aid of the last druid to save a magical, dying tree and stop an army of demons from destroying the world. Austin Butler, Poppy Drayton, Ivana Baquero, Manu Bennett, Aaron Jakubenko, and Vanessa Morgan star in the main roles.
With magic, elven races, and the classic conflicts between good and evil, peace and war, The Shannara Chronicles is a well-made high fantasy show that fans would love. It nicely weaves two parallel plotlines with ample action and adventure, making it an stimulating genre gem that is worth watching. Unfortunately, the show’s lower viewership and ratings led to its cancellation after two seasons, making it relatively unknown.
7
‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)
Florence Pugh as Charlie Ross in ‘The Little Drummer Girl’Image via AMC
Directed by Park Chan-wook, The Little Drummer Girl is a spy drama series based on John le Carré’s 1983 novel of the same name and the second screen adaptation of the book after the 1984 film starring Diane Keaton. Set during the Cold War, the six-part BBC show follows Charlie, a newborn and radical left-wing English actress who is recruited by a Mossad agent to stop a terrorist plot planned across Europe. Florence Pugh, Michael Shannon, and Alexander Skarsgård star as the main characters, with Charles Dance, Simona Brown, and Max Irons in supporting roles.
The Little Drummer Girl is a near-perfect adaptation of le Carré’s intricate espionage drama and stays faithful to the original 1970s setting, tense atmosphere, and complicated nuances of spycraft. On its release in 2018, the series was highly acclaimed and became one of the most celebrated spy shows of the 2010s, with praise for Chan-wook’s directorial vision and the invested performances of the lead cast. Despite its ardent genre following, The Little Drummer Girl has remained heavily underrated and has gotten lost in the never-ending stream of modern content.
8
‘War & Peace’ (2016)
Paul Dano, Lily James, and James Norton in period outfits looking at the camera for War and Peace.Image via BBC
Directed by Tom Harper and written by Andrew Davies, War & Peace is a historical drama miniseries adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s 1896 novel and the second major English-language TV series and BBC adaptation of the literary classic. Set during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s, the series follows the interwoven tales of five Russian aristocratic families and their newborn members as they navigate love, loss, and the meaning of life amid a raging war. The show’s ensemble cast includes Paul Dano, Lily James, James Norton, Jessie Buckley, Brian Cox, and Gillian Anderson in main roles.
War & Peace is elevated by its passionate drama, sprawling visuals, and luxurious costumes, balancing humor and heart at various stages. While it cannot capture the complete depth of Tolstoy’s genius, the six-part series largely stays faithful to the original material and makes the intricate literary classic more comprehensible for current audiences. At the time of its premiere in 2016, War & Peace garnered critical acclaim, but it has remained a hidden gem ever since, though it is more than worth rediscovering.
COMMENTS