Queer book-to-screen romances are heading for screens in a lively mix of genres, from Regency drama and hockey romance to Hollywood secrets and supernatural stories. Swooon’s guide tracks 20 projects at different stages, with several high-profile titles pointing towards 2027. The key thing to know: some are well into production, while others are still only in development or optioned.
Essential Takeaways
- Projects are at very different stages: The list ranges from post-production and filming to development and optioned projects that haven’t been green-lit.
- 2027 has some notable prospects: The guide flags new seasons of Bridgerton and Heated Rivalry, alongside Red, White and Royal Wedding.
- Not every title adapts a queer romance novel: Some draw on books with LGBTQ+ storylines, while others add a queer romance to a broader adaptation.
- Many dates remain unknown: Several projects have no confirmed release date, and their status may change as production moves forward.
- The source material is varied: The projects include novels, a memoir and stories spanning romance, drama, fantasy and thriller.
Queer romances are finding room across genres
The appeal of these adaptations is their range. A queer romance might sit at the centre of a love story, as with Heated Rivalry, or emerge within a drama with other ambitions, as it does in Bridgerton and The Hunting Wives.
Swooon’s guide counts 20 upcoming or developing screen projects, but they aren’t all at the same point in the pipeline. Some are filming or in post-production; others are still in development, while an option simply means a screen project has been secured for consideration, not that it’s been green-lit.
That distinction is worth keeping in mind when browsing a list like this. A familiar title and a promising premise can make a project feel close, but an unknown release date or early-stage status means there’s still plenty that can change.
2027 could bring some major returns
Among the projects highlighted for 2027 are Heated Rivalry Season 2 and Bridgerton Season 5. In the latter, the series is set to give Francesca and Michaela a second-chance romance, following its decision to change Michael, a character from Julia Quinn’s novel, into Michaela.
For Heated Rivalry, creator Jacob Tierney said the new season was expected in late spring, while noting that no official premiere date had been set, CBS News reported. The story is expected to draw largely on Rachel Reid’s The Long Game and bring in characters and couples from across the wider Game Changers series.
There’s also Red, White and Royal Wedding, which continues the story of Alex and Henry after they make their relationship public. Swooon’s interview with Casey McQuiston clarifies that the sequel is an original screen story rather than an adaptation of a follow-up novel, with McQuiston involved as a screenwriter.
Beyond the headline romances, the slate gets curious
The list stretches well beyond familiar romantic pairings. The Housekeeper, based on Rose Tremain’s novella, is a period film about a love affair between a housekeeper and a female novelist. Embankment Films confirms that Caitriona Balfe, Emma Laird and Anthony Hopkins are among the cast, and lists the film as being in post-production.
Then there’s Insomniac City, based on Bill Hayes’ memoir and centred on his relationship with neurologist Oliver Sacks, and Enigma Variations, adapted from André Aciman’s novel. The titles show how queer romance adaptations can encompass memoir and literary fiction as well as conventional romantic drama.
Other projects remain further from the screen. Playing the Field brings a rivals-to-lovers story into professional women’s football, while The House in the Cerulean Sea is being developed as an animated series, with a gay romance alongside its found-family story. Those differing tones make the wider slate feel less like one genre and more like a collection of very different viewing moods.
What adaptation status really tells you
For viewers trying to work out what’s actually on the way, the status label is often more useful than a casting headline. Filming or post-production gives a clearer sense of progress; development and optioned projects signal possibility, not a guaranteed release.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a good example of why updates matter. Netflix’s Tudum confirms that Anna Kendrick is attached to direct Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel, while the adaptation’s casting and release date remain unannounced in that update. Its premise centres on an ageing Hollywood star sharing the story of her marriages and the secrets behind them.
So, treat the list as a snapshot rather than a fixed schedule. Production details can shift, and a project without a date may stay that way for some time. Still, the range of stories is encouraging: queer romance is appearing in adaptations that don’t all look or feel alike.
A varied watchlist, with plenty still to come
From hockey players and royal romance to literary drama and supernatural worlds, these projects offer plenty to follow, even if not all are close to release. For now, the safest bet is to watch for official production updates rather than plan a viewing date around a title that’s still in development.
Keep an eye on the projects that match your taste, and leave the rest on the watchlist.
Source Reference Map
Story idea inspired by: [1]
Sources by paragraph: