Movie adaptations have been around since the 1899 silent movie version of Cinderella. I can imagine the conversations back then, complaining that the film didn’t do the original story justice. That events were different, or modern sensibilities had ruined a piece of classic literature. I’m sure that people have be asking why adaptations fail since that first attempt, and I don’t expect that to change.
Does the suggestion that people have been making the same complaints for over a hundred years ago make your complaints any less valid? No, of course not. Our first experience of a story or piece of media tends to define it for us. That this is a normal human experience should give us clarity.
Imagine your first experience of the timeless Disney classic Aladdin wasn’t the 1992 cartoon, but instead the 2019 film with Will Smith. You might think Robin Williams’ depiction of the Genie is over the top, and not how “the Genie acts.” I cannot fully convey the depths of sadness I feel for someone who had this experience, but I must accept that there are probably some of you out there who have.
The Elephant in the Room: Why Modern Adaptations Fail
While I’ve just spent time trying to convince you how or why adaptations have always created a sense of disappointment, we have to acknowledge the elephant in the room: In the last 10 years, practically every new adaptation has been trash. I know it, and you know it. For me it started with my own personal He Who Shall Not Be Named, M. Night Shamalama-ding-dong.
I first faced why adaptations fail so badly when he bastardized Avatar: The Last Airbender. It sparked a hatred for that man so strong it was a full decade before I found the courage inside myself to forgive him. But then I watched the creators of A:TLA create more content in the Avatar universe, and that’s when I realized sometimes you stumble upon greatness that you will never recreate.
Other times, like Lord of the Rings, Fallout, The Last of Us Season 1, or pre-Endgame Marvel, you strike gold with an adaptation. But if you take a deeper dive into those examples, I think you’ll find they worked so well because they respected the original IP even when they changed something or added something new.
On the other hand, failed adaptations seem to have a common thread: The creators of those adaptations want to tell their stories, no matter how much they had to mutilate the original to get there.
Nostalgia Isn’t Why Adaptations Fail
Nostalgia has a powerful effect on the way we perceive stories from our past. Putting aside the issue at hand for a moment, we’ve all had the soul crushing experience of watching one of our favorite childhood movies as an adult only to discover how terrible that move really was.
When it comes to adaptations, nostalgia can keep us in our feelings, letting emotions drive our opinions instead of reason. When that happens, every change—no matter how small—feels like a betrayal. Things like wardrobe, hairstyle, and dialogue that doesn’t feel quite like how you think that character would speak become insurmountable reasons why an adaptation isn’t just inaccurate, it’s bad.
I don’t think the changes are why adaptations fail. Lacking respect for what makes the original loved by its fans is why adaptations fail. The Lord of the Rings movies managed to become some of the most beloved adaptations in the last forty years. The films succeeded not because they avoided changes or omissions, but because they respected the plot, the themes, and the characters. They told the same time-tested story.
Not the same for the Wheel of Time, unfortunately…
All the Latest Adaptations Feel Like Fanfiction?
First, I want to say that this isn’t always the fault of screenwriters. Those in Hollywood funding movies aren’t chomping at the bit to buy original ideas. Those carry far more financial risk than something they know people already love. Or, at least that’s what they seem to believe, even today—and I’m sure the data tells them this. They’re in it for the money, not the art.
So, what is a screenwriter to do when they don’t have the talent or proven track record to write a script for an original idea that will actually make executives give the greenlight? They find an IP they can use to give the executives an existing fanbase that they can guarantee will see the movie, then put their story into it.
Now you see how difficult it is to get original stories greenlit. So, if you’re young and impatient, or you’ve exhausted all other options, you grab an IP to remove the blocker to get your story out there.
And this isn’t just me saying this. Brandon Sanderson explained in a Reddit post what he’s faced trying to get his own stories made into movies and TV shows:
“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.”
Read the entire post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/lotrmemes/comments/1g1d1sk/comment/lrh2ubl/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Creators’ Gaslighting and the Reason Why Adaptations Fail
Hollywood writers love their stories just as much as you love the ones they’re adapting. So, when fins of the original IP criticize their story, the writers’ and creators’ first reaction is to defend. The evidence for an inserted story is clear when creators clearly ignore the source material.
How many times have we heard from the creators of MCU Phase 4 properties that they didn’t read the comics before making their movie? They do this because that source material doesn’t matter. They already know the story they’re going to tell, the MCU is just the costume their story is wearing.
This is why they call any criticism of their work as misogynistic, or racist, or any other number of -isms? You’re not criticizing their adaptation, you’re telling them their original story idea is bad. So they default to calling fans one -ism or another to deflect the conversation. These days, those tactics receive eye rolls instead of shocked Pikachu faces and vehement denials.
That Park Place: She-Hulk Actress Still Attacking Fans Over Failed Marvel Series, Gloats About How Showrunner Predicted ‘Toxic’ Fan Responses Over Now Canceled Show
The Post-Endgame MCU
While the MCU’s decline in story quality is more about activism and less about writers telling their own stories, this is still a great example of a major problem with the eroded relationship between fans and the makers of these adaptations. The makers hide their true intentions, using ad hominem attacks on the very fans they need to go see their movie. Then, when the movie doesn’t perform well, they call it confirmation.
Where to Go From Here?
But for the sake of good stories, things have to change. And it has to start with respect for what made the IP popular in the first place. Look at The Last of Us season 1, for instance. They brought in the co-creator of the game, Niel Druckmann, to co-create and write for the show. This is the ultimate level of respect for the IP, and though there were changes, it’s the reason season 1 was such a success. I won’t get into season 2 here, because that’s an entirely different issue.
What this continues to come down to is respecting the DNA of the story you’re adapting. Those that respect their source, find success. Those that don’t, struggle.
What Fans Actually Want Successful Adaptations
So often creators talk about how “Fans want this,” or, “Fans don’t want that,” but do they actually know? One good example of this is the latest attempt to create a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was better than Shamalan’s attempt but it failed to capture the acclaim of the original.
I think Albert Kim, the showrunner, explained the reason himself when he described how the show shifted Aang’s journey from episodic adventures to a serialized drama:
“We essentially give him this vision of what’s going to happen & he says, ‘I have to get to the Northern Water Tribe to stop this from happening.’ That gives him much more narrative compulsion going forward, as opposed to, “Let’s make a detour and go ride the elephant koi,” that type of thing.”
Read the full IGN article here: https://www.ign.com/articles/the-big-netflix-avatar-the-last-airbender-producer-interview-this-is-a-remix-not-a-cover?fbclid=IwY2xjawLPdY5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1SUtEYnNOOGFqTTlPRFJTAR7IgiQa4TbEzEXwHV1dlhBl0jRURPknWpaLuZIXc9Ez39C21TyjcOgh-FWsKw_aem_9hL4SqddyU5REJnkUlIBew
Is that what fans wanted? Or is that what Kim wanted? I argue that it was the latter.
Fans want to see their favorite stories and characters faithfully represented on screen. Take a look at the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon. As I write this, critics have given it a 77% score, while audiences have rated it at 97%.
Modern adaptations of beloved animated movies rarely earn scores like that, but this one did because the creators stayed mostly true to the original characters and storyline.
Creators preach at fans, telling them they’re stupid for loving the things that they clearly don’t. And we’re tired of the hypocrisy.
So if you’re a creator, know that you don’t need to carbon copy the original. You just need to respect the soul of what it is.
Conclusion
There’s not much else to say other than this: If you’re a writer, producer, director, or showrunner, and you wonder why adaptions fail. The answer is simple: They don’t respect the IP they’re adapting, and see no need to remain faithful to it.
I promise that a critical and financial success that is true to the story everyone loves, will result in better outcomes than trying to shoehorn in the story you want to tell.
For fans, I know it’s exciting to have an opportunity to see the stories you love in a new medium, especially if it’s from book to screen, but let’s agree to always approach these adaptations with hopeful skepticism, and a little bit of grace.
Follow Me!
Tired of watching Hollywood butcher your favorite stories? I’m building my own, crafted with love, honesty, and a deep respect for the fantasy stories that came before.
Join My Newsletter! and get a free copy of The Storm’s Approach, and keep updated on my latest journey writing fantasy with respect and love for the genre.
FAQ
Why do so many movie adaptations fail?
Many adaptations fail because creators prioritize their own story over the original material. Instead of honoring the source, they reshape it to fit personal agendas or trends, alienating fans in the process.
What is the biggest reason adaptations disappoint fans?
The biggest reason is a lack of respect for the original IP. When creators ignore core characters, themes, and emotional tone, the adaptation loses what made the story special.
Are all changes in adaptations bad?
No. Changes can be good if they preserve the heart of the original. Successful adaptations like The Lord of the Rings or The Last of Us made changes, but they respected the source material.
What do fans actually want from adaptations?
Fans want authentic, faithful storytelling that captures the soul of the original. They’re not asking for perfection—they’re asking for respect.
Why do creators insert their own stories into adaptations?
Often, it’s because Hollywood doesn’t fund original ideas easily. Creators use known IPs to push their own stories, knowing studios will greenlight projects with a built-in audience.
What’s an example of a failed adaptation?
M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender is a widely criticized adaptation that ignored key characters, emotional depth, and the tone of the original animated series.
What’s a successful adaptation and why did it work?
The Last of Us (Season 1) succeeded because it involved the original game’s co-creator, respected the characters, and made thoughtful changes that fit the spirit of the story.
