The process of adapting a popular novel into a film or streaming series is fraught with potential peril. Readers who love the source material will likely have very specific thoughts about how the narrative should play out in a visual medium, and, most importantly, which actors should portray their favorite characters. Any deviation from what worked on the page will be viewed with tremendous skepticism, if not outright rage. Take, for instance, the case of Daniel Craig getting cast as James Bond. Though even most die-hard fans now agree that he was an ideal 007 (Craig even had doubts himself), the fact that he did not conform completely to Ian Fleming’s description of the character in the books (Craig’s blonde hair was a major bone of contention) led some to loudly declare he was all wrong for the role.
As a grown-up who can accept that directors and writers are simply going to have visions different from my own when they tackle novels I’ve enjoyed, I tend to wait until they’ve actually finished the movie before I pass judgment. But there have been times when I’ve cried foul over filmmakers taking wild surface liberties with vividly written characters. And I can’t think of a more egregious alteration from the book version of a character to their depiction in a movie than Tom Cruise getting cast to play Jack Reacher.
Jack Reacher Author Lee Child Admits Tom Cruise’s Casting Was A Mistake
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