Skip to main content

May 2020

Books on Screen

May 2020

As we continue to self-isolate amidst the coronavirus pandemic, there is no shortage of book-to-screen adaptations releasing in May to enjoy at home. This month's roundup includes the series premieres of HBO's "I Know This Much Is True," Netflix's "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" and NatGeo's "Barkskins"; the conclusion of "Defending Jacob" on Apple TV+; and the season finales of "Outlander" on Starz, "My Brilliant Friend" on HBO and "Killing Eve" on BBC America. Among May's DVD releases are Emma, The Informer and The Invisible Man.

 

On TV

 

Series Premieres

"Into the Night"
Release Date: May 1st on Netflix
Based on: THE OLD AXOLOTL by Jacek Dukaj

"Valeria"
Release Date: May 8th on Netflix
Based on: The novels of Elísabet Benavent

"I Know This Much Is True" (6-part limited series)
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO; Series Premiere on May 10th
Based on: I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE by Wally Lamb

"Snowpiercer"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on TNT; Series Premiere on May 17th
Based on: SNOWPIERCER: THE ESCAPE written by Jacques Lob, illustrated by Jean-Marc Rochette

"Sweet Magnolias"
Release Date: May 19th on Netflix
Based on: The Sweet Magnolias books by Sherryl Woods

"Barkskins" (8-episode limited series)
Air Dates: Mondays at 9pm ET/PT on NatGeo; Series Premiere on May 25th (two episodes air each Monday)
Based on: BARKSKINS by Annie Proulx

"Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" (4-part docuseries)
Release Date: May 27th on Netflix
Based on: FILTHY RICH: The Billionaire's Sex Scandal — The Shocking True Story of Jeffrey Epstein by James Patterson and John Connolly, with Tim Malloy

 

Season Premiere

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Air Dates:
Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT on ABC; Season Seven Premiere on May 27th
Based on: The Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D.

 

Series Finale

"Defending Jacob" (8-episode miniseries)
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV+; Series Finale on May 29th
Based on: DEFENDING JACOB by William Landay

 

Season Finales

"Supergirl"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on The CW; Season Five Finale on May 3rd
Based on: The DC Comics character Supergirl, created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino

"My Brilliant Friend"
Air Dates: Mondays at 10pm ET/PT on HBO; Season Two Finale on May 4th
Based on: THE STORY OF A NEW NAME by Elena Ferrante

"Outlander"
Air Dates:
Sundays at 8pm ET/PT on Starz; Season Five Finale on May 10th
Based on: THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon

"The Flash"
Air Dates: Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT on The CW; Season Six Finale on May 12th
Based on: The DC Comics character The Flash, created by Robert Kanigher, John Broome and Carmine Infantino

"Batwoman"
Air Dates:
Sundays at 8pm ET/PT on The CW; Season One Finale on May 17th
Based on: The DC Comics character Kate Kane/Batwoman, created by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and Keith Giffen

"Belgravia"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on EPIX; Season One Finale on May 17th
Based on: BELGRAVIA by Julian Fellowes

"Killing Eve"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on BBC America; Season Three Finale on May 31st
Based on: The Villanelle series by Luke Jennings

 

Ongoing Series

"Roswell, New Mexico"
Air Dates: Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT on The CW
Based on: Roswell High series by Melinda Metz

"Council of Dads"
Air Dates: Thursdays at 8pm ET/PT on NBC
Based on: THE COUNCIL OF DADS: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me by Bruce Feiler

 


 

On DVD


Bloodshot
DVD Release Date: May 5th
Based on: The Valiant Comics character of the same name

Gretel & Hansel
DVD Release Date: May 5th
Based on: The fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel" by The Brothers Grimm

The Informer
DVD Release Date: May 8th
Based on: THREE SECONDS by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
DVD Release Date: May 12th
Based on: The comic book series Birds of Prey by Jordan B. Gorfinkel and Chuck Dixon

The Call of the Wild
DVD Release Date: May 12th
Based on: THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London

Emma
DVD Release Date: May 19th
Based on: EMMA by Jane Austen

The Invisible Man
DVD Release Date: May 26th
Based on: THE INVISIBLE MAN by H.G. Wells