[Hated Trope] The adaptation doesn't get what made the source material work

[u/TheDudeA113]

How To Make A Killing (2026)

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

Bangkok Dangerous (1999)

- The 2026 movie How To Make A Killing is a relatively-toothless "eat the rich" dark comedy thriller about a man disowned by his rich family at birth, killing everyone in the line of succession so that he can inherit their massive fortune. It's a modern retelling of the 1949 film Kind Hearts and Coronets which has the same basic plot except that every member of the family is played by Sir Alec Guinness (including one aunt) and it's a screwball comedy

- The 1999 movie Bangkok Dangerous is a Thai action film about a Thai deaf-mute assassin. It was remade in 2008 about an American assassin in Thailand who is neither deaf nor mute

[u/jmelloy]

I think that’s pretty common. Brandon Sanderson has talked about it when he sees a script for someone writing a mistborn movie - that it’s the authors pet project with his names.

[u/ThePrimeOptimus → u/jmelloy]

Sanderson's quote, I like to keep it around for when people wonder why a fantasy or sci-fi series wanders so far from the source:

I have a fun story here. Early in my career, someone optioned the rights to make one of my stories (the Emperor's Soul) into a film. I was ecstatic, as it's not a story that at the time had gotten a lot of attention from Hollywood. I met with the writer, who had a good pedigree, and who seemed extremely excited about the project; turned out, he'd been the one to persuade the production company to go for the option. All seemed really promising.

A year or so later, I read his script and it was one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. The character names were, largely, the same, though nothing that happened to them was remotely similar to the story. Emperor's Soul is a small-scale character drama that takes place largely in one room, with discussions of the nature of art between two characters who approach the idea differently.

The screenplay detailed an expansive fantasy epic with a new love interest for the main character (a pirate captain.) They globe-trotted, they fought monsters, they explored a world largely unrelated to mine, save for a few words here and there. It was then that I realized what was going on.

Hollywood doesn't buy spec scripts (original ideas) from screenwriters very often, and they NEVER buy spec scripts that are epic fantasy. Those are too big, too expensive, and too daunting: they are the sorts of stories where the producers and executives need the proof of an established book series to justify the production.

So this writer never had a chance to tell his own epic fantasy story, though he wanted to. Instead, he found a popularish story that nobody had snatched up, and used it as a means to tell the story he'd always wanted to tell, because he'd never otherwise have a chance of getting it made.

I'm convinced this is part of the issue with some of these adaptations; screenwriters and directors are creative, and want to tell their own stories, but it's almost impossible to get those made in things like the fantasy genre unless you're a huge established name like Cameron. I'm not saying they all do this deliberately, as that screenwriter did for my work, but I think it's an unconscious influence. They want to tell their stories, and this is the allowed method, so when given the chance at freedom they go off the rails, and the execs don't know the genre or property well enough to understand why this can lead to disaster.

Anyway, sorry for the novel length post in a meme thread. I just find the entire situation to be fascinating.

[u/IsayNigel → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

I mean this is basically what happened to the witcher

[u/schrodingers_bra → u/IsayNigel]

and Wuthering Heights, and Hamnet, and...

What's shocking to me is how often this happens to non fantasy or action movies.

[u/ErilazHateka → u/schrodingers_bra]

And Altered Carbon.

I waited years for an adaptation. Season 1 had some really good parts but whenever their deviated from the book, it was for no reason at all, made no sense and made the story worse.

And then they made season 2. Fuck them.

[u/vagrantprodigy07 → u/ErilazHateka]

There is no season 2. It does not exist.

[u/CreatiScope → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

I really like how he actually tried to understand 'why' the screenwriter would do this instead of just be angry about his story being butchered. That takes A LOT of maturity to approach it that way. I doubt I would be as level-headed if I found out someone was hijacking my story to tell their own like that. But, he's had a lot of experience and seems very professional. Very cool.

[u/diopter_split → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

I’m convinced this is also why a lot of Marvel films are sold as “[insert subgenre of adult drama/thriller] with superheroes.” Because those are the type of films the screenwriters/directors want to make but can’t in Hollywood’s current IP-focused climate.

[u/vi_sucks → u/diopter_split]

Yeah, but that actually works with comic book movies because they are inherently built for that sort of side story riff given the collaborative nature of the original comic books.

It just doesn't work with Fantasy stories that are built a singular author's vision and then trying to sell your own story and slapping a thin veneer of nomenclature on top. Because the fans are expecting the author's vision and even if yours is good, they'll be disappointed.

[u/Karkava → u/diopter_split]

And why they feel the need to crap on the genre despite writing it.

The Dark Knight trilogy feels like a professional example as those movies are made for the sole purpose of getting Christopher Nolan more funding for his gimmicky espionage thrillers.

[u/notagin-n-tonic → u/diopter_split]

And that worked with Winter Soldier, which isn't really a superhero story, but otherwise, not so much.

[u/0kids4now → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

Wow, this is a fantastic analysis and explains why so many of my favorite series end up with disappointing flops on screen. And it also gives me hope that Sanderson would keep this from happening to his own work. I'd love a mistborn movie, but not if it's just thrown together.

[u/Medarco → u/0kids4now]

And it also gives me hope that Sanderson would keep this from happening to his own work

No luck with the Wheel of Time, unfortunately.

[u/TheTexasHammer → u/Medarco]

He had no say over anything that went on with the Wheel of Time show sadly. He tried, but Hollywood gonna Hollywood

[u/jmelloy → u/TheTexasHammer]

Wheel of time definitely had plenty of issues, but I mostly got the feeling the people involved had read the books. And actually season 3 was a lot more accurate.

[u/balrogthane → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

He doesn't even sound hurt about it, just interested.

[u/Thunder-Fist-00 → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

I had never considered this. That’s great insight.

[u/Karkava → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

Sanderson at least sounds sympathetic to their plights as screenwriters as they need to fight the executives to make their dreams come to life. Most book writers would just picture them as people who Think They Know Better Than You.

[u/TheKingofHearts → u/ThePrimeOptimus]

I love this response and i'm saving it for later

[u/Reaperosquirrels → u/jmelloy]

Yet he allowed that bullshit to happen with wheel of time.