6 TV Shows You Probably Had No Idea Were Actually Based On Famous Books

It’s a known fact that some of the most acclaimed TV shows of all time started off as epic books that were adapted for the small screen.

Some books are just so damn good that they’re begging for the television treatment, including this list of much-loved shows via our mates at Stan.

Have a geeze at the small screen adaptations of famous books below so you can sound like a cultured qween the next time you’re having a binge sesh with your mates.

1. Get Shorty

The bad bois of Get Shorty have returned for a third season of madness but before you join them on their next wild adventure, let’s delve into the origin of the show, shall we?

Get Shorty is based on the 1990 bestselling novel of the same name by legendary crime writer Elmore Leonard who also wrote Rum Punch, the book that inspired Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece Jackie Brown.

Critics raved about the first two seasons, with The Hollywood Reporter labelling it “truly engaging and sharply done.”

It also copped a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes which is pretty darn impressive.

The previous season saw Miles (Chris O’Dowd) struggling to juggle his filmmaker dreams and his family man persona with his undeniable skills as a career criminal.

Shit really hit the fan when his partner Rick (Ray Romano) agreed to wear a Federal wire which leads to the events of the new season as Miles must now employ more hardcore methods to climb the Hollywood ladder.

Season 3 of Get Shorty is now streaming only on Stan, with new episodes dropping weekly on Monday’s at 9pm AEST.

2. Catch-22

George Clooney made his return to television this year in Stan‘s Catch-22, a limited drama series about the absurdity of war.

The series is based on a satirical novel by celebrated author Joseph Heller that was first published in 1961 and boasts a bunch of impressive feats including being on TIME’s list of the top 100 English-language modern novels of all time.

Girls star Christopher Abbott plays John Yossarian, an officer in WWII who, understandably, wants nothing more than to finish his mission and go home in one piece but unfortunately the United States military keep finding ways to stop him from getting his wish.

Mad man in charge Colonel Cathcart (played by Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler) holds Yossarian back by raising the number of missions he must fly to complete his service.

Interestingly, Clooney was originally supposed to play Cathcart, but due to time constraints, including the fact that he produces the series, he ended up taking a smaller role as the war-obsessed General Scheisskopf.

You can binge-watch all six eps on Stan now.

3. Killing Eve

You’ll know Killing Eve for its stellar cast, its gripping storylines and the slew of awards that it’s won, but did you know it’s based on a novel?

Emmy award-winning actress, producer, and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge adapted the series from thriller novel Codename Villanelle by British author Luke Jennings.

The series follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a British spy on the hunt for psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer).

Killing Eve has received universal acclaim and has scored a ton of awards including BAFTA awards, Emmy awards, Screen Actors Guild awards and a Golden Globe.

Prepare to fall in love with these two fascinating ladies ‘coz season one is now streaming on Stan.

4. The Handmaid’s Tale

Groundbreaking dystopian series The Handmaid’s Tale is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by celebrated author Margaret Atwood.

If you’re partial to alternate realities and thought-provoking dramas then this is the haunting series for you.

The Handmaid’s Tale tells the story of a dystopian world following a Second American Civil War where women, known as ‘Handmaids’, are forced into child-bearing slavery.

The series has received critical acclaim and its first season won eight Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series.

In fact, it’s the first Hulu-produced series to win a major award as well as the first series on a streaming service to win an Emmy for Outstanding Series.

It also took out the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and lead star Elisabeth Moss was also awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Gilmore Girls fans will also get a kick out of seeing lil Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) all grown up as Dr. Emily Malek.

Seasons 1 and 2  are now streaming on Stan.

5. Dexter

Your fave serial killer series Dexter is based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay and as the title suggests, it’s one dark and twisted story.

Much like the novel, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is a forensic technician working for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a vigilante serial killer, tracking down murderers who have evaded jail and getting his own revenge on them.

The series ran for an impressive eight seasons with its finale drawing the largest overall audience in Showtime‘s history.

All eight seasons of this sadistically addictive series are now streaming on Stan.

6. The Truth About Harry Quebert Affair

Fans of the crime genre shouldn’t be at all surprised that drama series The Truth About Harry Quebert Affair is based on a book considering the mystery unfolds like a killer (pun intended) crime novel.

Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey plays Harry Quebert, an author living in a small town on the Maine coast who is accused of murdering a girl a few decades back.

Ben Schnetzer plays Marcus Goldman, a budding novelist who was mentored by Quebert. TV legends Damon Wayans Jr. (White Chicks) and Virginia Madsen (Frasier) also star in the series.

Academy Award-winning director Jean-Jacques Annaud makes his television directorial debut, directing all 10 eps.

The series is based on a French novel by Joël Dicker that was later translated to English and has sold more than one million copies, knocking Fifty Shades of Grey off the top of the bestseller lists in French-speaking countries.

All episodes are now streaming on Stan so prepare to become obsessed with this gripping mystery.

More Stuff From PEDESTRIAN.TV