Lihi Lapid Is Behind Our Next Addiction, and She’s Not Alone

As has been the case in recent years on screen, the coming year will also be marked by series and films that are based on books. In honor of Hebrew Book Week, we found five books that will soon be adapted for the screen, and before that happens, you may want to read them.

The television industry is in a constant search for the next big story, and often finds it דווקא between the pages of books. In recent years, bestsellers and beloved books have become especially sought-after source material for creators, producers and streaming services, which rush to turn them into series everyone will be talking about. For Book Week, we gathered several books that are already making their way to the small screen.

Strangers / Lihi Lapid

“Strangers,” by Lihi Lapid, is a novel that follows a girl who flees from what she has seen and from people trying to silence her, and finds temporary shelter with a confused elderly woman who mistakenly identifies her as her daughter. At the same time, the girl’s mother sets out to search for her missing daughter after getting involved with the wrong man, and on another storyline, a man living overseas feels that something is happening to his mother. The story unfolds across distances, families and unexpected connections.

yes is currently developing a series based on the book, starring Eden Golan, Einat Holland, whose casting was reported on mako, Jana Joseph and others, and directed by Zion Rubin.

Good Night, Orphaned Land / Kobi Farhi

In his book, Kobi Farhi, the lead singer of Orphaned Land, describes the story of the band, which has been active for decades on the international stage and has built a large fan base around the world. Alongside the success and performances in more than 50 countries, he also returns to his own personal story and the path he took from a young man in Israel to a musical career, to the impact of October 7 and the war on the audience’s attitude, and to the question that has accompanied Farhi to this day, whether Orphaned Land is still alive.

The memoir is currently in the process of being adapted into a film, and the screenplay is being written by Liora Kaminzky (“Fauda,” “Jaffa”).

Dune Messiah / Frank Herbert

“Dune Messiah” is the second book in Frank Herbert’s “Dune” series, so its plot will be less familiar to anyone who has not read the earlier books or seen the films. Still: the book opens about 12 years after the end of Dune. During those years, Paul Muad’Dib Atreides established his position as emperor of the galactic empire with the help of the Fremen, the warrior tribe that helped him avenge his father’s death and conquer the planet Dune in the first book. The Fremen went to war across the galactic empire in Paul’s name, much to his disgust, conquering dozens of planets and slaughtering masses.

The final installment in the film trilogy will arrive in theaters toward the end of the year, with the original cast returning in full, from Timothée Chalamet to Zendaya and Florence Pugh, alongside Robert Pattinson, who recently joined.

A Tale of Two Cities / Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens’s 1859 classic has already received numerous screen adaptations. For those who still do not know the details of the historical novel and its immortal quotations, the plot takes place against the backdrop of the years before and during the French Revolution, beginning with the imprisonment of Dr. Manette in 1757 and ending about 36 years later with the trial of Charles Darnay.

A historical drama miniseries based on the novel is currently in development at BBC One and MGM+, starring Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones”), François Civil and Mirren Mack.

Verity / Colleen Hoover

“Verity” is a novel about a struggling novice writer named Lowen Ashley, who receives an offer to finish a series of books by Verity, a successful author in serious medical condition. Lowen arrives at the family home for a short time, but stays longer than planned after becoming attached to Verity’s husband, Jeremy. During her stay, she discovers a hidden manuscript by Verity that contains disturbing revelations about the family’s life, and begins to wrestle with whether to reveal the truth or keep it secret.

Colleen Hoover already conquered the screen with the adaptation of “It Ends With Us,” which became a box-office hit starring Blake Lively and also sparked a storm following a widely covered lawsuit between its stars. In October, “Verity” will also reach theaters in a film adaptation starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, and directed by Michael Showalter.