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From 'Bridgerton' to 'Ripley,' Netflix's latest hit adaptations have also boosted book sales

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From 'Bridgerton' to 'Ripley,' Netflix's latest hit adaptations have also boosted book sales

Netflix has had immense success adapting books into television series, turning the streamer into a global driving force for boosting book sales and changing how we read fiction.

One of its biggest recent successes has been the “Bridgerton” series — the first three seasons rank among its top 10 most popular TV series, according to Netflix’s viewing metrics, and Season 3 is No. 1 in the global top 10 since Part 1 was released in May. And those views have translated into major book sales. According to Nielsen’s BookScan, for example, the weekly U.S. sales of HarperCollins’ “Bridgerton” book series, written by Julia Quinn, increased by a whopping 552% between the week before the Season 3 TV trailer was released and the week after the season premiered on Netflix.

Similarly, after the premiere of “Fool Me Once,” an adaptation of Harlan Coben’s mystery thriller, the book soared onto the Amazon U.K. bestsellers of 2024 list and the New York Times bestsellers list, and the tie-in cover sold 20,000 physical copies post-release in the U.S.

Michelle Weiner, co-head of the books department at Creative Artists Agency, works closely with Netflix on numerous book to TV series deals, including “Night Agent,” “XO, Kitty,” “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” and “All the Light We Cannot See.”

“Some of Netflix’s most successful series have been based on book adaptations we thoughtfully built together,” Weiner said. “They share our goals and authors’ goals in taking award-winning cinematic stories and partnering them with thoughtfully matched writers, directors, producers, and talent.”

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Audiobooks have also seen the effect of Netflix’s fandom, especially on Spotify. Since popular titles were added to Spotify’s Audiobooks in Premium, existing subscribers can listen to 15 hours of audiobooks per month as part of their Spotify Premium subscription.

“On Spotify, audiobook versions of these novels connect fans to the onscreen characters in a deeper way, and the correlating soundtracks and playlists also see a spike,” said David Kaefer, Spotify’s head of music and audiobooks businesses.

He pointed to “Bridgerton” as one example, saying they’ve seen a 1,700% increase in searches of the show, a 150% increase in listens to Quinn audiobooks and a boost in listens to Vitamin String Quartet, whose pop music covers are featured in the series. Similarly, Kaefer said Spotify has seen spikes for Cixin Liu’s “The Three-Body Problem” — the Chinese sci-fi novel was the basis of the series that premiered in March — and for Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” which was the basis for Steven Zaillan’s adaptation, “Ripley,” that starred Andrew Scott.

“Ripley,” starring Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn and Andrew Scott, was adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 thriller, “The Talented Mr. Ripley.”

(Netflix)

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And Highsmith’s novel, published nearly 70 years ago, is just one example of a book returning to bestseller lists years or even decades after the original release.

Following the premiere of the romantic drama “One Day” in February, David Nicholls’ 2009 novel returned to No. 1 on the Sunday Times bestsellers list and was on the Amazon U.K. Best Sellers of 2024 list, 15 years after the book debuted.

Netflix Vice President Jinny Howe, who oversees drama series, says books and television series have storytelling parallels.

“Who doesn’t love to disappear and escape into their favorite book? The character journeys in a TV series format also allow you to really live with this character, evolve with and follow them on these emotional, dramatic arcs that are really satisfying in similar ways,” she said.

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The process for finding books they can adapt into a series is ongoing.

“We’re always reading across a variety of genres and authors, and have a great in-house team who helps us track upcoming properties,” Howe said. “We’re not just looking at the genre, but also for fresh voices and perspectives, and bold and original narratives.”

Many of Netflix’s adaptations are based on bestselling novels with a built-in fandom that’s invested in characters and their stories.

“I think what we always try to be really careful about and to do really thoughtfully is, how do you take the spirit of that from the books? Because you are trying to appeal to that existing fandom, but also as a series, as a film, expand upon it.”

However, it’s not always about looking at the “hot book” of the moment, Howe said.

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“We have also seen adaptations of novels that are lesser known have just as much success on Netflix, like with ‘The Queen’s Gambit,’ which is one of our most popular series,” she said. “When you look at the success of ‘Ripley,’ and also there just being [intellectual property] of different forms and different times, [it] has been exciting to see as well … there are such great stories that also feel ripe for interpretation and they’re not necessarily coming directly from the London Book Fair this year.”

While romance series like “Bridgerton” and “One Day” have performed well, thrillers and mysteries are also popular on the platform, Howe said. “Fool Me Once” was one of Netflix’s most popular series earlier this year, and the streamer plans to release another thriller on Aug. 1, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.”

It’s based on Holly Jackson’s bestselling book series of the same name, and the British author is an executive producer on the murder-romance TV series. She took a hands-on approach for the adaptation.

“I assisted with selecting the writers for the room and have given extensive notes on all iterations of the scripts for every episode,” Jackson said.

She quipped: “They couldn’t get rid of me, even if they wanted to.”

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Whether book authors are involved in the production of a series is a case by case basis.

A girl holds a cellphone as a boy looks on beside her

Emma Myers will star as Pip Fitz-Amobi and Zain Iqbal as Ravi Singh in Netflix’s adaptation of “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.”

(Netflix)

“Some authors prefer to be more hands off to provide the series team more creative flexibility to explore beyond the perimeters of their original work, while others like to be more directly involved in the adaptation process to shepherd how their vision is brought to screen,” Howe said. “Ultimately, our goal is to honor the book while presenting the best version of the story, which is a very nuanced process.”

In addition to helping select writers for the TV series, Jackson was also involved in post-production, including the edit, giving notes on rough cuts of the episodes.

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“My ambition has always been that I wanted to make a show that elevated — or dare I say — even improved upon parts of the book,” she said. “When I had those ideas, I made sure I didn’t shut up about them until they made it into the show.”

The author said she’s happy to have her project at Netflix because of its “accessibility and the fact it will now reach so many more people,” especially viewers who haven’t heard of her books.

“I’m so excited to hook them in too and take them on this new journey,” Jackson said.

Though she is an author and loves to read and get lost in a book, Jackson said she watches “significantly more” TV than she reads books, which she finds can be more helpful in training her to be a better writer.

Emma Myers, who had a breakout role as Enid Sinclair in “Wednesday,” will star as 17-year-old Pip Fitz-Amobi in “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.” Jackson said casting an American actor for the lead role was a way to give “U.S. readers some sense of ownership over the show too.”

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Readers have already shown support for the series.

“They have been desperate for any clue or crumb about the show we’ve made, and even seeing them freak out about the smallest details — like one of Pip’s costumes — is heartening to see,” Jackson said.

Bella Kish, a 21-year-old fan of the books, said she was elated when she learned there would be a TV adaptation.

“I posted a TikTok video about the announcement that got a lot of attention,” Kish said. “It was great to see what a huge fan base Holly’s books have gained and how excited everyone is for the upcoming episodes.”

Kish said seeing one of her favorite books onscreen will be special.

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“While there is some risk when making TV series out of books, I really hope that they stay true to the original characters and don’t change the story too much,” she said.

Entertainment

Lucas Museum to give free annual passes to South L.A. neighbors, host community preview day

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Lucas Museum to give free annual passes to South L.A. neighbors, host community preview day

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which is moving at light speed toward its Sept. 22 opening, announced Thursday that it will give free annual passes to its South L.A. neighbors living in the 90037 ZIP Code. The 300,000-square-foot, $1-billion museum located in Exposition Park will also host a special community preview day on Sept. 13, more than a week before the general public gets to step inside.

The 90037 ZIP Code has a population of more than 65,000 and is bordered roughly by the 110 Freeway to the west, Slauson Avenue to the south, Central Avenue to the east and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north. Residents can register for passes at lucasmuseum.org/lm37 and will be alerted in August when the program launches. Pass holders can reserve tickets for themselves and one guest.

Tickets for non-pass holders go on sale July 21. They cost $25 for adults and $21 for seniors. Kids 17 and under are free.

“Storytelling has the power to bring people together and create a sense of community,” said Lucas Museum Chief Executive Tracey Bates in a news release about the program. “Through LM37, we are inviting our South Los Angeles neighbors to make the museum part of their lives and take their own path of discovery through the art, programs and experiences that will help shape this new cultural hub for Los Angeles.”

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The community preview day is designed to give local business owners, community partners, civic leaders and registered LM37 pass holders a sneak peak of the 10,000 square feet of exhibition space, as well as the expansive gardens with 11 acres of park space.

The opening programming, curated by co-founder George Lucas, features 20 inaugural exhibitions across more than 30 galleries, including one titled “Star Wars in Motion,” containing vehicle designs, high-speed racers, flying vessels, props, costumes and illustrations from the first six films in the beloved franchise.

More than 1,200 objects will be on display from Lucas’ personal collection of narrative art. Highlights include work by Norman Rockwell and Dorothea Lange, as well as a variety of manga, children’s book illustrations and comics.

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Movie review: Supergirl is a blast

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Movie review: Supergirl is a blast

Last year’s “Superman” ended with Iggy Pop singing “Because I’m a punk rocker, yes I am” — an ironic coda for a superlatively square hero. But it rings straightforwardly true for Superman’s cousin.

Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El, or Supergirl, sports not a spandex suit but a Blondie T-shirt. When we meet her in Craig Gillespie’s “Supergirl,” she’s been on an interstellar bender for days. She’s more Courtney Love than Clark Kent.

Nonchalant and sarcastic, Kara is also a little Han Solo-ish, you might say, given that she moves capriciously through the galaxy in her junky spaceship while getting in fights in extraterrestrial bars. She’s a welcome, jagged riff on more buttoned-up superheroes, and Alcock is terrific in the role. If only “Supergirl” was as good as she is.

While the latest DC release, and second under James Gunn’s stewardship, has its moments, “Supergirl” struggles to match Kara’s punk-rock energy with an equally spirited supporting cast and story.

Skepticism seems to have gathered for “Supergirl” ahead of its release. Many fans have argued it wasn’t the right next step for DC Universe. But I’m not so sure. Alcock’s breezy cameo in “Superman” was one of that movie’s highlights. Handing the follow-up to her, and her faithful floating dog Krypto, strikes me as an extremely natural next step. When in doubt, follow the dog.

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And much of “Supergirl” is winning. It resides almost entirely in space, touching down only momentarily on Earth. In its consistently creative production design, clever needle drops and underdog story arc, “Supergirl” resides a little closer to Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies than other DC entries. Its outer space is filled with cosmic detritus, mean characters and cute critters. Seth Rogen as the voice of a tiny alien co-piloting a space bus is an inspired concoction, as is a shabbier sci-fi realm with rest stops along the intergalactic highway.

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Justin Baldoni and wife break silence after ‘It Ends With Us’ legal battle with Blake Lively

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Justin Baldoni and wife break silence after ‘It Ends With Us’ legal battle with Blake Lively

Justin Baldoni has broken his silence after reaching a settlement in a lengthy and highly publicized legal dispute with Blake Lively.

Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, presented a united front in an Instagram video the couple shared Wednesday that began, “So we have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say, because Lord knows we have.”

The “It Ends With Us” actor and director said that although they’d wanted to address the debacle that involved dueling lawsuits with Lively, nearly two years of tit-for-tat fodder and culminated in a confidential settlement, “something was telling us not to.”

The couple said they prayed about when to make a public statement. “This feels like the moment,” Emily said.

“What does feel important,” she continued, “is that we can genuinely say that we are sitting here today feeling immense gratitude for so many things and so many people and so many things that have happened to us.”

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“Gratitude has saved us,” Justin added.

“I also feel that it’s important as we say that — in that gratitude — it doesn’t negate the injustice and the pain that we have also felt in the last few years, and we’ve had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things,” Emily said. “How could something like this even happen? Let alone disguised as a fight for women. So much to unpack. And the truth is, reality is, is that there’s been a lot of trauma for us to move through as a family, which also makes it hard to speak.”

“We don’t even know this is the right thing to say, but we just know we need to share something,” Justin said. “What I will say is that there have been so many painful things that have been spoken into existence — “

“Untruthful,” Emily broke in.

“We didn’t want to add to the noise, so we just wanted to let the justice system run its course,” he said.

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“And the truth and the facts have spoken for themselves,” Emily said.

The couple’s statement comes a year and a half after Lively filed a bombshell lawsuit against Baldoni alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and several other charges on the heels of a messy “It Ends With Us” summer release and press tour that fueled rumors of on-set turmoil.

Less than a month after the allegations against Baldoni rallied Hollywood against him, he countersued Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million in damages, claiming they’d smeared his name in the press and wrestled away his control of the film. His suit was later dismissed.

In May, two weeks ahead of the trial, Lively and Baldoni reached an agreement to resolve their legal dispute, bringing an abrupt end to the contentious battle.

“The parties in the Blake Lively and Wayfarer Studios litigation have reached an agreement to resolve the matters,” lawyers for both sides said in a joint statement.

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“The end product — the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind. We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard. We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”

In June, a federal judge ordered Baldoni and his production company to pay Lively’s attorney fees related to his unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against her, but rejected her bid for additional damages.

“So, how are we doing?” the filmmaker said in the Instagram video. “We are healing, and if you’ve ever been through something traumatic, you know that healing isn’t linear. It lives different every day, and we have had to rethink for ourselves what is real. What matters, and it’s this. It’s our family. It’s our friends. It’s our community. It’s our faith.”

Times staff writer Josh Rottenberg contributed to this report.

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