The pipeline from page to screen shows no signs of slowing. Here’s a quick look at the latest adaptation announcements, casting updates and projects in development.

‘Little House on the Prairie’ renewed for Season 2

Netflix announced Wednesday that it’s renewing “Little House on the Prairie” for a second season before the first has even debuted. The streamer also revealed new casting news. Willa Dunn will join Season 2 as Laura Ingalls’ iconic nemesis, Nelle Oleson. Alice Halsey stars as Laura, Skywalker Hughes as her sister, Mary, Luke Bracey as Pa and Crosby Fitzgerald as Ma. Season 1 debuts July 9. 

Masterpiece drama ‘Miss Scarlet’ gets novelization

Masterpiece announced Tuesday that author Victoria Dowd has written a novel based on the “Miss Scarlet” series on PBS. While most Masterpiece offerings are adaptations of classic novels, this mystery series starring Kate Phillips is an original creation by Rachael New. Miss Scarlet’s story will be expanded, however, in the new book, “Miss Scarlett and the Duke: House of Mystery,” which is set to hit store shelves June 23. The book “is set against the backdrop of Victorian London at the height of ‘Egyptian Mummymania,’ and follows Eliza Scarlet as she is drawn into a chilling new case after the opening of an ancient sarcophagus reveals not a mummy … but the body of a recently murdered young woman,” a synopsis of the book reads. 

Will Arnett joins ‘The Challenger’ cast

Will Arnett is set to play a NASA official in the upcoming space series “The Challenger.” In March, Amazon MGM Studios greenlit the limited series about Sally Ride, the first female astronaut to go to space. Kristen Stewart is set to star as Ride in the adaptation of Meredith Bagby’s book, “The New Guys.”

Scarlett Johansson to produce ‘The Fine Art of Lying’

Universal Content Productions announced Tuesday that it’s developing a series adaptation of Alexandra Andrews’ “The Fine Art of Lying.” Scarlett Johansson is set to produce the project. “The Fine Art of Lying” was a selection of Reese Witherspoon’s book club. The psychological thriller tells the story of a woman who mistakenly gets entangled in a murder and art heist. 

Kristin Davis, Tig Notaro join ‘Beach Read’ cast

The cast of the film adaptation of Emily Henry book “Beach Read” continues to fill out with the addition of Kristin Davis and Tig Notaro. The novel centers on January (Phoebe Dynevor), a romance writer, and her rival, Gus (Patrick Schwarzenegger), a literary fiction author. The writers are both struggling with different kinds of loss. They decide to swap genres for the summer while living in neighboring beach houses. Will they swap anything else? Stay tuned.

About the author

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development. She’s currently reading “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang and watching “Letterkenny.”