Reinterpreting a Classic story.

I was recently asked if reinterpreting a classic character could ever backfire.

Here is my reply.

Yes. It can easily backfire.

Many authors and filmmakers these days cannot think of new ideas (or so it seems to me), and so revisit old themes, often replaying the same old story from a different angle.

In books, it has been going on for a while. Eowyn Ivey (reproducing “The Snow Girl” so wonderfully) and Madeline Miller reimagining Greek myths from a female perspective (also wonderful) started it.

Many jumped on the bandwagon. Some of those novels are great retellings. Medusa, Briseis, Clytemnestra, Achilles, and even Lady Macbeth have been good reading, but I wish these writers would cover something new and exciting. They are all capable.

With filmmaking, what have we got recently, remakes of Dracula and Frankenstein, as well as endless sequels. Surely someone has some new ideas. If you wish to remake an old film or book, make it better than the original, not a pale imitation.

In books, I suspect Madeline Miller is harming her own reputation just doing the same old thing over and over, as are many of her compatriots.

In film, I cannot imagine two great film creators like Guillermo del Toro and Luc Besson have done themselves any favours with these remakes.

Please Ladies and Gentlemen, produce something original.