Netflix has tapped Matthew B. Roberts to adapt Jodi Picoult's the book of two ways into a series, produced by Sony Pictures Television
The streaming service Netflix is moving forward with a television adaptation of Jodi Picoult’s novel The Book of Two Ways, according to industry sources. The project is set to be written and led by Matthew B. Roberts, who will serve as both executive producer and showrunner. Production responsibilities will be handled by Sony Pictures Television, where Roberts holds an overall deal. Representatives for the parties involved declined to provide comments, and Netflix issued no immediate statement about the development.
The original novel, published in 2026, centers on Dawn Edelstein, a woman whose life is reframed after she survives a plane crash and begins to envision two distinct futures. One path follows her back to Boston, where a family awaits: a husband and child. The other path draws her toward a rekindled career in Egyptology and an old lover she once left behind. That central premise — a character forced to choose between domestic stability and a resurrected professional and romantic life — will form the narrative backbone of the proposed series.
The series adaptation will likely explore the novel’s core theme of parallel possibilities, transforming the book’s internal dilemmas into dramatic arcs across episodes. With Roberts attached as both writer and lead creative, the project gains a showrunner who has experience shaping serialized, character-driven stories. Showrunner here denotes the person who oversees the writers’ room, story direction and production choices — responsibilities Roberts will undertake while translating the novel’s dual timelines into televisual form. How closely the show will follow the source text or expand its world for episodic television has not been disclosed.
Sony Pictures Television is producing the adaptation under the umbrella of Roberts’ existing deal with the studio, which provides an established production pipeline and studio support. Industry notices emphasize the collaborative nature of such adaptations: the studio typically coordinates financing, staffing, and network or streamer deliverables. While negotiations and staffing are ongoing, public materials confirm that both the author and writer’s representatives declined to comment publicly about the arrangement at this time.
Matthew B. Roberts is best known for his long association with the Outlander franchise, another project produced by Sony Pictures Television. He rose through the ranks from writer and producer to become the series’ showrunner, and he is also the developer and showrunner on the prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood. Sources note that the eighth and final season of Outlander is currently airing, with the series finale set to air on May 15; meanwhile, Blood of My Blood is preparing to launch its second season later in 2026. That track record positions Roberts as a creative experienced in handling serialized historical drama and emotionally complex character threads.
Jodi Picoult is the author of multiple bestselling novels, and several of her works have found new life on screen. Titles such as My Sister’s Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, The Storyteller, A Spark of Light, Wish You Were Here, Mad Honey, and By Any Other Name illustrate the range of her catalog. In past adaptations, four of her novels — The Pact, Plain Truth, The Tenth Circle, and Salem Falls — were turned into television productions, and My Sister’s Keeper was adapted into a feature film in 2009 starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin. Picoult’s storytelling often centers on ethical dilemmas and interpersonal conflict, elements likely to carry through in a serialized format.
At this early stage, key deliverables such as episode counts, casting, production schedule and a release window remain unannounced. Industry watchers will be attentive to how the producers adapt the novel’s dual-path structure for episodic storytelling and whether the series opts for a literal split timeline, alternating episodes, or a more interwoven approach. The representation on the project is also confirmed: Roberts is represented by CAA and Morris Yorn, while Picoult is represented by Laura Gross and WME. As the adaptation progresses, additional casting and creative announcements are likely to surface through trade reports and official press releases.
For readers and viewers who follow literary adaptations, this project marks another example of how contemporary novels are being reimagined for streaming platforms. With a showrunner experienced in long-form television and a studio partner in Sony Pictures Television, the adaptation of The Book of Two Ways merits attention as it develops from page to screen. Interested audiences should expect further updates as the creative team, network and production house formalize the series’ trajectory.