After East Of Eden And Lonesome Dove, Netflix Has To Adapt This Classic Novel

Published Oct 25, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT Mary Kassel is a Senior Writer & Critic who joined the Screen Rant team in 2023. After graduating from Emerson College with a degree in Media Arts Production, Kassel started at Screen Rant with a focus on the critical analysis side of movies and television while continuing to work on set in film production. At Screen Rant, Kassel primarily writes for the Classic TV section, mining their encyclopedic knowledge of television history for content. However, they also contribute to the Books team and review both film and television as a critic. Netflix's original series have come to define the streaming service and have helped demonstrate that it should be taken seriously within the world of television. Most recently, Netflix has distinguished itself with its miniseries adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 novel, East of Eden. Many of the best quotes in East of Eden are brought to life beautifully in the TV show, immersing the viewer in a world completely different from their own, while proving how relatable and gripping a story from so long ago can be. Netflix's Lonesome Dove series is high on the radar of readers who love Larry McMurtry's book as well as audiences who enjoyed East of Eden. Also a sprawling take on humanity's capacity for survival, good, and evil, and the colonization of the American West, Lonesome Dove is an enduring tale that will scratch the same itch as East of Eden. There's no shortage of classic books for Netflix to mine for stories. Lonesome Dove is far from the only upcoming adaptation, with Netflix's take on Pride and Prejudice coming on December 3rd. However, Virginia Woolf's Orlando is the perfect novel for Netflix to transform into a miniseries next. As Netflix takes steps to keep the literary canon alive through its TV shows, Orlando is the logical next choice. Netflix Needs To Adapt Virginia Woolf's Orlando Into A Miniseries As one of the most important authors of the 20th century, it doesn't come as a surprise that her work has been adapted to film and TV before. However, Orlando, her groundbreaking 1928 novel, deserves to be on Netflix's radar for the streamer's next miniseries. An even more epic and ambitious narrative than East of Eden or Lonesome Dove, Orlando spans centuries, seeing its titular character begin life as a man in Elizabethan England and make their way through the world's eras, becoming a woman and grappling with how differently people treat them. TV adaptations of books face a lot of pressure, as they have to pay tribute to their source material while finding a way to translate the often older material into narratives modern audiences will enjoy. However, Orlando is primed for transformation into a TV series because it relates so clearly to the contemporary period. When reading Orlando, it's hard to believe that it was written in the early 20th century, as Woolf develops a narrative that feels as if it could've been written today. Orlando was first brought to life onscreen in 1992 in the film starring Tilda Swinton as the titular character. While Swinton does an excellent job capturing Orlando, the scale of the story lends itself to the miniseries format. There are many aspects of Woolf's novel that are left out of the movie or glanced over in favor of crafting a tightly-paced and compelling feature. However, a miniseries wouldn't have to sacrifice these moments and could give each phase of Orlando's long life the time and detailed exploration they deserve. Netflix Is Quickly Becoming The Best Streamer Making TV Adaptations Of Classic Novels ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection It's no secret that for a TV show or movie to get made today, it almost always has to come with a popular piece of IP. Netflix's book-to-screen adaptations have been some of the best performers for the streamer, and there's no reason for Netflix to stop now. The fact that East of Eden has been so successful and found so many viewers demonstrates that there's an appetite for complex narratives, period dramas, and series that challenge the viewer to reflect on their own position in the world. Orlando was decades ahead of its time, pushing boundaries when it came to expressions of gender and sexuality in fiction, like much of Woolf's work. Of course, Netflix will have to make some changes to the source material, as is the case with all adaptations, but Orlando is the kind of classic novel that already lends itself to examination through a contemporary lens. It's always interesting to contemplate who would take on the central role of Orlando, as Florence Pugh's work as Cathy has been a career-defining moment. While it's still uncertain how audiences will respond to the Lonesome Dove miniseries, Netflix has always kept its slate packed with a wide variety of genres. Orlando has plenty of the elements that draw viewers into limited series. With a well-known novel as its source material, modern themes, plenty of opportunity for gorgeous visuals and settings, and a relatable central character, the time has come for Orlando to come to the small screen.