There’s a good chance that you are already familiar with Liz Moore’s smash-hit novel, “The God of the Woods.” In a significant move for mystery fans, Netflix has officially snagged the rights to adapt the New York Times bestseller into a gritty, hour-long thriller series.
The project is shaping up to be a powerhouse production, with Sony Pictures TV and Original Film backing a creative team led by Moore herself and Liz Hannah, the writer behind hits like The Post and The Dropout.
A Mystery Built on Privilege and Secrets
Set against the rugged, moody backdrop of the Adirondacks, the series is a multi-generational story that feels both intimate and expansive. The story kicks off with a nightmare: 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her family’s elite summer camp.
But this isn’t just a simple missing-persons case. Barbara’s disappearance echoes a previous family tragedy from years prior, threatening to pull the thread on the Van Laar family’s carefully curated life. As the investigation unfolds, the series will examine class warfare, family secrets, and the abuse of power. It also examines how wealth can silence the truth.
The “A-List” Seal of Approval
It’s rare for a book to capture the zeitgeist quite like this one. Not only did President Obama name it one of his favorite reads of the year, but the “Swiftie” community recently noticed a significant Easter egg: in her new documentary, The End of an Era, Taylor Swift is seen listening to the audiobook The God of the Woods. When the leader of the free world and the biggest pop star on the planet are both fans, you know the source material is something special.
“We hope everyone falls in love (and hate) with these characters as much as we have,” Hannah and Moore shared in a joint statement, signaling that we should expect some truly complex, morally gray figures on screen.
Behind the Scenes: A Proven Track Record
Netflix is putting this story in skillful hands. Co-showrunner Liz Hannah has a resume that practically screams “prestige TV,” with credits including the beloved series “Mindhunter“ and the Emmy-winning “The Dropout.” Joining her are executive producers Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty from Original Film, who have a long-standing reputation for delivering high-stakes storytelling.
With the combined forces of Moore’s intricate plotting and Hannah’s sharp, award-winning writing, “The God of the Woods” is looking like a frontrunner for the next big streaming obsession. We’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, if you are looking for more news on adaptations, you can find it here.
