Jun 18, 2025
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In today’s race for audience attention, streaming platforms aim to stand out and attract global viewers. In this context, European adaptations have become a strategic tool for content internationalization.
So far this year, more than 30 European adaptations have been identified. A key data point: 89% of them are original productions. Netflix leads the trend with releases such as Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight, a miniseries highly rated on collaborative databases.
What kind of content gets adapted?
The European adaptations launched this year are based on books (67%) and true stories (33%). In terms of platforms, Netflix (+370), Prime Video (+230), and Max (+130) offer the highest number of available titles. Book adaptations remain the most widely distributed format in the region.
In addition to traditional formats, platforms such as Netflix, Max, and Disney+ have started adding Japanese manga adaptations. This shift aligns with the global interest in anime content (12% of preference in EMEA).
A creative landscape
Spain (11 titles) and the United Kingdom (10 titles) are leading producers of European adaptations. At the same time, co-productions with the United States, such as When No One Sees Us (2025, Max Original), adapted from the novel by Sergio Sarria, show how certain European IPs cross borders while preserving cultural identity. These stories position themselves as high-value content for global audiences.
Success cases: Adaptations that crossed borders
In 2025, several adaptations stood out on both mainstream platforms and niche markets:
The Åre Murders (Sweden, Netflix): a crime series based on Viveca Sten’s mystery novels Hidden in Snow and Hidden in the Shadows.
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth (UK, Peacock): A miniseries dramatizing the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing in Lockerbie, Scotland.
My Fault: London (Spain & UK, Prime Video): A film adaptation of the first book in the Culpables trilogy by Argentine author Mercedes Ron.
The Crow Girl (UK): A television series adapted from the best-selling novels by Erik Axl Sund.
The Leopard (Italy, Netflix): A historical drama based on the iconic 1958 novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.
Additionally, several U.S.-produced adaptations stood out globally during 2024:
Dune: Part Two (2024): Sequel to Dune (2021), based on the science fiction novels by Frank Herbert.
House of the Dragon (2022): A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011), based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Oppenheimer (2023): A biographical film inspired by the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
The Boys (2019): A dark superhero series adapted from the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024): A sequel to Deadpool 2, based on characters from Marvel Comics.
Coming soon: New European adaptations
At least 10 new European adaptations are expected in the coming months, including:
The Conjuring: Last Rites (UK/USA), a fictional sequel based on real events, set for release in September. Produced by New Line Cinema, it will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Dracula: A Love Tale (France/UK) upcoming gothic horror film written and directed by Luc Besson, based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. Scheduled for theatrical release in France on 30 July 2025.
Pride and Prejudice (UK / Netflix series): Netflix’s UK production adapting Jane Austen’s beloved novel, scripted by Dolly Alderton and directed by Euros Lyn.
The Angry Birds Movie 3 (Finland / Japan / US): it is based on the mobile game franchise "Angry Birds" created by Finnish company Rovio Entertainment. The movie will be launched in 2027, produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Animation Pictures.
Intellectual property remains a key asset, especially in content based on books or true events. The high share of original productions and increasing geographic diversity offer valuable opportunities. Understanding which IPs are adapted, how they are positioned, and which platforms promote them is crucial for making strategic decisions.
