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Ever since Apple TV was first announced in 2019, its repeatedly looked to the literary world for its next big show. We’ve lost count of how many novels have inspired a series on the streaming service, but we do know some inspirations are more well-known than others. The streamer made it common knowledge that “The Mosquito Coast” was based on the book of the same name by Paul Theroux.
Justin Theroux was cast as the protagonist Allie, which was particularly newsworthy because Paul is his uncle. “I have a long history with the novel in that I read it as a kid and this was one of those happy accidents where the stars aligned for me to do it,” Justin Theroux told Deadline, sharing he’d spoken to his uncle about how to play the character. But for all the series that hit the headlines for being based on books you already know about (or had an interesting connection to the source material), there are a few you probably didn’t.
Truth Be Told was inspired by Kathleen Barber’s Are You Sleeping
You may not know “Truth Be Told” is based on a book, because there’s been a few name changes long the way. Kathleen Barber’s 2017 novel “Are You Sleeping” inspired the series, and the two originally shared the same name when the Apple TV project was first announced in 2018. The mystery triller tells the story of Josie Buhrman, who’s desperately trying to escape the dark cloud hanging over her family. Her difficult past includes cult ties and a family member’s murder. In an attempt to start anew, Josie moves to New York (or San Francisco in the book) and lies to everyone about her name and past.
The novel made it onto the small screen thanks to actor and book lover Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club has recommended some excellent nonfiction picks over the years). Witherspoon served as an executive producer alongside actor Octavia Spencer, who also stars in the show. Fellow executive producers Lauren Neustadter and Jenno Topping picked up the book on Witherspoon’s recommendation. “We read it and loved it, and especially loved its potential in terms of an adaptation,” Topping told IndieWire.
“Truth Be Told” ran for three seasons between 2019 and 2023. Following the success of the show, Barber’s original book was re-released with a new cover featuring Spencer and her co-star Aaron Paul, plus a new name. The updated version is also titled “Truth Be Told.”
Shining Girls was adapted from The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
Apple TV’s “Shining Girls” ran for a single season in 2022 and was based on the 2013 novel “The Shining Girls” by Lauren Beukes. The fictional mystery thriller with horror elements was originally published in South Africa and tells the dark story of murderer Harper Curtis. Harper sets his sights on Kirby Mazrachi, a shining girl (aka a super smart young woman). When Harper goes in for the kill, Kirby manages to survive his attack — and he soon realizes he’s messed with the wrong girl. Kirby isn’t going down without a fight, and she’s determined to expose the mass murderer if it’s the last thing she does.
Elisabeth Moss, who also starred in the TV adaptation of “The Handmaid’s Tale” (a book from 1985 that’s still relevant today), starred as Kirby in the streaming adaptation. Jamie Bell took on the dark role of Harper. Beukes told Esquire of seeing her novel on the small screen, “Having this story turn into a TV show has been the most incredible experience of my life.” She added, “I hope people see some of the resilience and the uncertainty that people suffering from trauma have experienced.”
Black Bird was based on James Keene’s dark memoir
“Black Bird” debuted on Apple TV in 2022 and ran for a single season. The six-episode true crime miniseries starred Taron Egerton as James Keene, who you may not know is a real person. Keene told his story in the memoir “In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption,” which was released in 2010 and inspired the show. Keene was incarcerated and he was then asked by a prosecutor to get a fellow inmate to confess to multiple murders. If Keene did the deed, his 10-year sentence would be reduced. But if he gets caught, he’ll have to face the wrath of a serial killer.
Egerton got candid about the struggle of playing a real person in the series, which also starred Ray Liotta and Greg Kinnear. “I got on very, very well with [Keene] when he did join us on set,” the “Rocketman” actor told Radio Times, though he admitted he somewhat struggled having Keene on the set. “It’s not easy when they’re around. It’s quite hard,” Egerton said. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, we’ve also rounded up five books adapted into Hallmark movies and TV shows.
Presumed Innocent is based on a book of the same name by Scott Turow and Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
“Presumed Innocent” is based on not one, but two novels. The first series, which debuted on Apple TV in 2024, was based on Scott Turow’s “Presumed Innocent,” which dropped in 1987 and became a movie of the same name in 1990. The legal thriller tells Rusty Sabich’s story as his obsessive love for a woman takes over during a legal trial. The crime thriller delves into several serious subjects, including murder, and the lengths people will go to for those they love. It starred Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty, alongside Ruth Negga and Bill Camp. When asked by The Hollywood Reporter why the book became a TV show, creator, showrunner and executive producer David E. Kelly shared, “It was one of my favorite books, and I also loved the movie, but you couldn’t do all the book in a two-and-a-half-hour thing. But in a limited series, you could dive a little deeper.”
Interestingly though, for the second season, despite “Presumed Innocent” being part of a three book series, Deadline reported “Presumed Innocent” will take inspiration from another book, “Dissection of a Murder” by Jo Murray. That mystery thriller novel centers on lawyer Leila Reynolds, who takes on the high-profile murder case of a well-known judge as her first big courtroom gig. She is tasked with defending the man accused, who is adamant he wants her to represent him. But things only get murkier when Leila realizes she’s going up against her own husband in the courtroom. At the time of writing, Season 2 is still yet to air.
Silo is taken from Hugh Howey’s series of novels
“Silo” began on Apple TV in 2023 and has aired three seasons at the time of writing. It’s based on Hugh Howey’s dystopian sci-fi “Silo” series, which started with a standalone story, “Wool,” that dropped in 2011. Howey continued the story and released it as the compilation “Wool Omnibus,” followed by “Shift,” and “Dust.” The series’ premise sees a group of people living in the future in an underground silo. The human race was forced to move into the earth due to increasing toxicity on the surface. It stars Rebecca Ferguson, Common, and Shane McRae.
In a 2023 Reddit thread, Howey told fans he’d been heavily involved in the making of the TV series. “Usually, I was the one suggesting big changes and des stick to the book.’ It was a great dynamic, because I’ve always been open to adapting for the new medium,” he said
