Netflix Wins Bidding War for New Dan Brown ‘Robert Langdon’ Series: “The Secret of Secrets”
Streaming giant Netflix has secured the rights to adapt Dan Brown’s upcoming novel, “The Secret of Secrets,” the sixth book in the popular Robert Langdon series. The highly anticipated thriller will be developed into a series with Carlton Cuse (known for “Lost” and “Jack Ryan”) as showrunner, following a competitive bidding process.
Netflix Greenlights New Dan Brown ‘Robert Langdon’ Thriller
What Happened
In a significant acquisition, Netflix has officially ordered a series adaptation of “The Secret of Secrets,” the forthcoming novel by bestselling author Dan Brown. This development comes after an intense bidding war among various platforms, highlighting the immense anticipation for the next installment in the Robert Langdon saga. The project has received a straight-to-series order, marking one of the largest book-to-screen deals in recent times.
The Creative Team: Brown and Cuse at the Helm
Dan Brown himself will be deeply involved in the project, serving as a co-creator, writer, and executive producer. He is joined by veteran showrunner Carlton Cuse, acclaimed for his work on iconic series like “Lost,” “Jack Ryan,” and “Locke & Key.” Cuse will also co-create, write, and executive produce, in addition to taking on the role of showrunner. Emma Forman from Cuse’s Genre-Arts will also join as an executive producer. Reports indicate that the staffing process for the series’ writers’ room is already underway.
About “The Secret of Secrets” Novel
“The Secret of Secrets” is slated for release on September 9th, published by Doubleday. The novel will once again follow Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he embarks on a perilous quest. This time, Langdon must race against powerful ancient forces and a ticking clock to rescue a kidnapped scientist and her revolutionary manuscript. The discoveries within this manuscript are said to have the potential to fundamentally alter humanity’s understanding of the mind.
Dan Brown has described this upcoming book as “by far the most intricately plotted and ambitious book that I have ever written, and I also happen to think that it’s the most fun.” This statement perhaps sheds light on the eight-year interval since the last Robert Langdon novel, “Origin” (2017), the longest gap in the series.
The Robert Langdon Phenomenon: A Legacy of Success
The Robert Langdon series has achieved global phenomenon status, driven by the immense success of “The Da Vinci Code.” Brown’s novels have collectively sold over 250 million copies and have been translated into 56 languages. The series includes:
- Angels & Demons (2000)
- The Da Vinci Code (2003)
- The Lost Symbol (2009)
- Inferno (2013)
- Origin (2017)
- The Secret of Secrets (Upcoming 2025)
Previous Adaptations and Their Impact
This is not the first time Robert Langdon’s adventures have been adapted for the screen.
- Three novels – The Da Vinci Code (2006), Angels & Demons (2009), and Inferno (2016) – were made into feature films starring Tom Hanks as Langdon and directed by Ron Howard. These films have grossed a combined $2.24 billion worldwide (adjusted for 2025).
- “The Lost Symbol” was adapted into a television series for Peacock in 2021, featuring Ashley Zukerman as a younger version of Robert Langdon. The series ran for one season.
Carlton Cuse’s Track Record with Adaptations
Carlton Cuse has a strong background in successfully adapting popular literary works for television. He co-created and served as showrunner for the initial two seasons of Prime Video’s “Jack Ryan” series, starring John Krasinski, which was based on Tom Clancy’s bestselling novels. His other notable adaptation credits include “Locke & Key” for Netflix, “Bates Motel” for A&E, and “Five Days at Memorial” for Apple TV+, all derived from existing books or graphic novels.
What This Means for Netflix
Securing “The Secret of Secrets” is a major win for Netflix, adding another high-profile book adaptation to its roster, which already includes successes like “Bridgerton,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “The Night Agent,” and “You.” This acquisition underscores Netflix’s strategy of investing in established intellectual property with a proven global fanbase. The combination of Dan Brown’s storytelling prowess and Carlton Cuse’s experience in television production signals a strong potential for a hit series.
What Happens Next
With the series officially greenlit and key creative team members in place, the next steps will likely involve casting for the role of Robert Langdon and other principal characters, followed by pre-production and filming. Fans worldwide will be eagerly awaiting further announcements regarding the cast and the projected release date of the series on Netflix.
Editor’s Note:
This article is based on a report from Deadline, originally titled “Robert Langdon Series ‘The Secret Of Secrets’ Set At Netflix From Dan Brown & Carlton Cuse With Straight-To-Series Order In Big Book Deal – Exclusive,” published on May 24, 2025. It has been rewritten for clarity, accessibility, and SEO optimization, preserving all key facts and quotes.
