What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWolf Hall
Hilary Mantel · Book · 2021
If you loved Wolf Hall, start with Wolf Hall (Peter Straughan, 2015) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Wolf Hall across media.
If you loved Wolf Hall, you are clearly fascinated by the ruthless, calculated maneuvering required to survive within corrupt power structures.
Start with the source
The source
Wolf Hall
Peter Straughan · Series · 2015
Films on the same thread
The Wolf of Wall Street
Film · 2013
Explores: Greed, Excess, Corruption.
Much like the ambitious rise of Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall, this story captures the intoxicating, high-stakes pursuit of wealth and influence through calculated moral compromise and corruption.
A Man for All Seasons
Fred Zinnemann · Film · 1966
Explores: Religious Conflict, Moral Dilemma, Power vs. Principle.
This film provides the essential counterpoint to Wolf Hall, showing the direct collision between personal integrity and the absolute power of Henry VIII that defines the Tudor era.
GoodFellas
Martin Scorsese · Film · 1990
Explores: Organized Crime, Loyalty and Betrayal, American Dream Corruption.
The intricate loyalty and betrayal found in the inner circles of Wolf Hall find a modern, gritty parallel in the brutal, rise-and-fall dynamics of this mob narrative.
Wolfwalkers
Film · 2020
Explores: Nature vs Civilization, Friendship, Transformation.
While shifting to folklore, this film mirrors the tension between individual survival and rigid, oppressive societal expectations that drives the historical narrative of Wolf Hall.
Series on the same thread
The Tudors
Michael Hirst · Series · 2007
Shares a thread with Wolf Hall: Historical Fiction.
If you enjoyed the claustrophobic court politics of Wolf Hall, this series offers a deeper, more dramatized look at the same competitive, lustful power struggles under Henry VIII.
House of Cards
Beau Willimon · Series · 2013
Shares 2 threads with Wolf Hall: Power, Ambition.
Frank Underwood is the modern successor to Cromwell, utilizing the same cold, manipulative brilliance to dismantle opponents and conquer the halls of power found in Wolf Hall.
The Man in the High Castle
Frank Spotnitz · Series · 2015
Explores: Totalitarianism, Resistance, Moral Ambiguity.
The atmosphere of constant surveillance and moral ambiguity in this series echoes the precarious existence of those navigating the dangerous, shifting political landscape of Wolf Hall.
Chernobyl
Craig Mazin · Series · 2019
Explores: Nuclear Disaster, Government Cover-Up, Sacrifice.
This docudrama captures the same gravity of systemic failure and government cover-ups that complicate the lives of the historical figures depicted in the pages of Wolf Hall.
Podcasts on the same thread
48 Laws Of Power, By Robert Greene (Full AudioBook)
Podcast
Explores: power dynamics, social strategy, manipulation.
These strategies mirror the tactical brilliance of Cromwell in Wolf Hall, offering a direct exploration of the ruthless social maneuvering required to maintain authority in hostile environments.
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Authoritarianism, Domestic Espionage, Threats to Democracy.
The investigative focus on authoritarianism and political corruption provides a historical resonance that matches the high-stakes, dangerous atmosphere inherent in the power games of Wolf Hall.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I read the Wolf Hall trilogy in?
Wolf Hall is the first novel in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy about Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII. You should begin with Wolf Hall, followed by the second book, and conclude with the final installment, The Mirror & the Light, which completes the trilogy.
Is Wolf Hall based on a book?
Yes, the 2015 television series Wolf Hall is based on the novel of the same name written by Hilary Mantel. The book was published in 2009 and won the Man Booker Prize as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.
How many books are in the Wolf Hall series?
There are three books in the series written by Hilary Mantel. The trilogy follows the life of Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII, beginning with Wolf Hall and concluding with the New York Times bestselling final novel, The Mirror & the Light.
Should I watch the 2015 Wolf Hall adaptation before reading the books?
You can enjoy the 2015 television adaptation of Wolf Hall either before or after reading the novel. The book serves as the source material for the series and provides a detailed account of England in the 1520s during the reign of Henry VIII.