After Cross, Reacher, And Jack Ryan, 9 Other Heroes From Thriller Books Amazon Prime Should Adapt Into A Series

As a voracious reader with a knack for spotting potential cinematic gems, I can’t help but notice the plethora of action-packed, thrilling characters that have graced the pages of our beloved books and are now eagerly awaiting their time on the small screen.

As a lover of action and mystery thrillers, I must say that some of the best TV shows currently on Amazon Prime are adaptations from these genre books. For example, “Cross” featuring Aldis Hodge as Detective Alex Cross, who is James Patterson’s famous character, is just one of many exceptional series you can find on Amazon Prime if you enjoy action-packed stories with literary heroes at the helm. Shows like “Reacher,” with a third season coming soon, and “Jack Ryan,” starring John Krasinski and set for a movie spin-off, are also noteworthy. If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you already have a wealth of great viewing options at your fingertips!

After achieving such great acclaim with these titles, one can’t help but wonder which more renowned literary characters Amazon could potentially adapt for an exciting action or suspenseful mystery television series in the future. Here are some tough and compelling book heroes that I’d be thrilled to see starring in their own shows:

Lisbeth Salander (The Millennium Series)

Lisbeth Salander, an accomplished hacker known for her bold acts of vigilante justice, serves as the main character in Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s highly successful mystery novel, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and its subsequent sequels. These novels were later transformed into a trilogy of foreign films featuring Noomi Rapace in the title role. However, the sequels to David Fincher’s English adaptation of the first novel, starring Rooney Mara, were cancelled (except perhaps Fede Álvarez’s “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” from 2018). It is worth noting that Larsson’s series has been continued by David Lagercrantz following Larsson’s death, providing ample reason to adapt the “Millennium” series into a TV show and offering a wealth of material for storytelling.

Jason Bourne (The Bourne Identity)

The Jason Bourne movies, starring Matt Damon as an amnesiac assassin, were highly acclaimed due to their intense, unbridled action sequences that kept audiences craving for more, even after Hollywood finished adapting Robert Ludlum’s original trilogy. This led to the production of 2012’s The Bourne Legacy, featuring Jeremy Renner’s character Aaron Cross, and Matt Damon’s return in 2016’s Jason Bourne. However, neither of these spin-offs managed to capture the same charm. The USA briefly explored expanding the universe with its cancelled series Treadstone, but a complete overhaul with a new lead actor in the famous title role might be what’s best for the franchise, given that it has additional material from author Eric Van Lustbader to use.

Pierce Hunt (Hunt Them Down)

Pierce Hunt, once an Army Ranger and now a DEA agent, thrives on the excitement of pursuit, driven by his vendetta against the drug trade due to a heart-wrenching personal event. His blend of skill and dedication to law enforcement makes him an ideal protagonist for his own series. Given the success and praise his character has garnered in just three books penned by Simon Gervais (specifically, “Hunt Them Down” and “Trained to Hunt” from 2019 and 2020’s “Time to Hunt”), it’s surprising Amazon hasn’t jumped at the chance to acquire the rights yet.

Eve Dallas (In Death Series)

Starting from 1995, under the pen name J.D. Robb, Nora Roberts has authored over 50 novels in her “In Death” series. This series chronicles the future exploits of police lieutenant Eve Dallas and her romantic journey with billionaire Roarke, who later becomes her husband. A potential television show based on these books would offer a captivating blend of crime investigation, romance, and science fiction elements.

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl)

In 2020, the Artemis Fowl movie featuring Ferdia Shaw in the title role was premiered exclusively on Disney+. Although Kenneth Branagh directed it and Colin Farrell, an Academy Award nominee, played Artemis’ father, the film received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences due to numerous departures from Eoin Colfer’s popular young adult, contemporary fantasy novels. It is hoped that a series adaptation by Amazon might better serve the character of the child genius criminal mastermind.

Holly Gibney (Holly)

Previously appearing as a supporting character in “Mr. Mercedes” on television, portrayed by Justine Lupe, and in the HBO miniseries adaptation of “The Outsider” by Cynthia Erivo, Holly Gibney – a detective known for her obsessive-compulsive nature and keen observations – has taken center stage in some of Stephen King’s more recent publications. For instance, she was featured in the 2020 novella “If It Bleeds” and the 2023 novel “Holly.” With additional stories like the upcoming 2025 book, “Never Flinch,” planned, it seems that Holly Gibney could soon star in her own TV series.

Mitch Rapp (American Assassin)

Occasionally, the most gripping action hero narratives revolve around characters that audiences can identify with, like Mitch Rapp – an ordinary guy who underwent rigorous training to transform into a ruthless weapon, seeking revenge for a terrorist attack that took his girlfriend’s life. After the demise of Vince Flynn, the creator of this counter-terrorism operative, in 2013, his escapades have been carried on in books written by Kyle Mills. Therefore, there is ample source material to create a fresh TV series, which we hope would fare better than the 2017 movie adaptation of Rapp’s 2010 first novel, American Assassin, starring Dylan O’Brien in the lead role.

Bianca St. Ives (The Ultimatum)

People who enjoy TV shows similar to “Dexter,” a series based on Jeff Lindsay’s book series about a vigilante serial killer, might find a show about Bianca St. Ives equally entertaining. First appearing in Karen Robards’ “The Ultimatum” in 2017, this anti-hero is not a murderer but possesses exceptional thieving abilities that she employs to swindle the world’s most infamous con artists. The exploits of a contemporary Robin Hood character like Bianca could create an engaging television series.

Remo Williams (The Destroyer)

The character Remo Williams, originally developed by authors Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir, is the protagonist of over 150 novels since 1971. This former Newark cop who transforms into a covert government assassin first appeared on screen in the 1985 film “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins,” starring Fred Ward. In 2014, it was reported that Shane Black was working on a movie adaptation titled “The Destroyer.” However, since then, no further updates have been shared. Could it be possible for Amazon to reintroduce Remo’s adventures with his master, Chiun, on television screens?

Stay tuned for our forthcoming guide on book-to-screen adaptations, focusing on action/thrillers. You might discover if any of these captivating literary characters will make an appearance on Amazon Prime in the near future.

2024-11-29 00:07