Inertia, Hollywood, and the Failure of Adaptation - Collab Article
EB on Hollywood (Intro)
Hollywood. A place notorious with fame, money and celebrities. Where upcoming actors and performers dream of reaching. In the City of Angels, the area of Hollywood has become synonymous with the US film industry. Various giants within the film industry reside in Hollywood, with Warner Bros., Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures all having film studios in the district of Los Angeles.
The place that holds so many of the media pioneers of American film and television is also home to many stars of the past and present. The history of Hollywood can be seen from the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to Hollywood Boulevard and Walk of Fame – showing the inescapable impact that Hollywood has had on international cinema.
The 1920s were a time when cinema was really seen to flourish, and Hollywood itself began to be associated with glamour and luxury as we see it today. It was a time when movie stars really became celebrities. Despite the Great Depression in America, the 1930s were a ‘Golden Age’ for American cinema. Around 65% of the American population were estimated to be attending the cinema each week (via History Cooperative).
From Hollywood’s expansion in the 1920s to 2025, the industry has experienced significant evolution. An increase in productivity during the Second World War, with patriotic propaganda to boost morale, and the change of trends in the 1950s and 1960s are all reflected in the development of the film industry. Although the ‘Depression’ of the industry in the 1970s and recession in the 1990s hindered Hollywood, the industry and its stars have proven the longevity of this industry.
Now to today. Film and media are extremely accessible with it being available on phones, computers, televisions and much more. Although this change has decreased the exclusivity of television and film, this hasn’t necessarily affected the glamour and draw of Hollywood. The Hollywood Sign still stands on the Hollywood Hills as a reminder of the entertainment and media industries built around this district in Los Angeles and as a symbol of the impact Hollywood has had on international culture.
With the accessibility of film and television in a small handheld device, we are also being exposed to more performers than ever before. Actors are becoming increasingly recognisable as they jump from role to role within the industry. However, what is seemingly becoming more of an apparent problem is the issue with over-exposure of actors. Every few months there appears to be another actor or actress that is unavoidable in the media and teasers for new projects. This is then a progressively bigger problem when the suitability of a performer in a role is being questioned, and there are accusations of the performers' inclusion in the film or show only for their current popularity. This issue is explored throughout this article with focus on the notable adaptation of West End classic “Wicked”, the upcoming release of “Wuthering Heights” with stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, and finally the 2026 release directed by Christopher Nolan, “The Odyssey”.
The History of Hollywood: The Film Industry Exposed
SC on Wicked
$90 million. This was the budget for “Wicked: For Good”’s marketing, and it shows. From Starbucks to the Empire State Building, once again the world is consumed in green and pink. With over 400 brand collaborations, Universal’s marketing team has outdone itself in adapting the “Popular” Broadway Musical into a multi-media goliath, a cultural zeitgeist that will far outlive its source material. “Wicked: For Good” has truly both proved itself a transformative adaptation, even with such a tangential link to the original source material - the current product may be a distant cousin, but it still holds space for the shoulders of the giants it stands on.
However, in watching the film, immediately one is forced back into taking a formalistic approach; poor casting decisions could be argued as wearing the musical foundation of the material. One such case is Michelle Yeoh (winner of Best Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once), playing Madame Morrible. The illustrious actress reportedly warned Jon. M Chu of her lack of singing ability during casting decisions, of which the response “Don't worry about it” is depressingly emblematic of the sequel's ethos.
Many poor reviews from critics cite this general focus of style over substance as shortcomings; ironically the glitz and glamour of Hollywood favourites undercut a necessity for experience with musical theatre for an authentic adaptation - what remains is a profoundly enjoyable film, with such surprising performances as Jeff Goldblum as a delightful take on the Wizard, and a stellar return of Ariana Grande, coming in to her own and demonstrating her breadth of character acting.
Personally, I found “For Good” reaches the same highs of costume and set design as the first film, but that the lows of a weak second act, combined with unearned filler, outweigh the commendable cinematographical and musical ambition. Blatantly obvious on the other hand, is the sagging stagnation of Hollywood, still drunk on its reputation for phenomenal cinema, to set ablaze a safe, comfortable, and easily digestible plot. One must question not only the decision to not take risks in the acting and casting departments, but also the disregard of potential for new artistic merit. When faced with such a thin adaptation, we must question: how much of the film is a commodified product and how much is it art?
Variety article on Wicked marketing
Review commenting on Michelle Yeoh
SD on Odyssey and Wuthering Heights
One famous pioneer of modern-day cinema is Christopher Nolan. Ever since his first feature film debut in 1998 ‘Following’, his filmography has been of incredibly high regard with films such as 2005-2012's ‘The Dark Knight’ Trilogy, 2010’s ‘Inception’, 2014’s critically acclaimed ‘Interstellar’ and most recently 2023’s ‘Oppenheimer’. These films have all been incredibly well received by critics: His highest rated film -’The Dark Knight’ 2006 - landed a 94% on ‘Rotten Tomatoes’. The casting of these films is interesting as many notable names in Hollywood have appeared in his repertoire, such as Robin Williams, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Leonardo DiCaprio, Florence Pugh and many more.
So, when Nolan announced he would be adapting the legendary epic ‘Odyssey’, many were anticipating a star-studded cast. And they were not disappointed in that aspect: Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, Mia Goth as Melantho, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Zendaya as Athena, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Charlize Theron as Circe, as well as other actors who have not had their roles confirmed such as Lupita Nyong’O, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin and Jovan Adepo. However, many weren’t impressed with the casting, critiquing it for both how well known the cast was as well as the high number of American actors compared to Greek or even Italian actors.
For a story made with Greek Mythology in Greece, it was deemed important by fans that the cast consisted of Greek actors. There was further disappointment online when witnessing the high concentration of A-List stars which has been a rising critique amongst cinephiles and actors alike, was loud with many asking for new actors to be given a chance. Whilst many, myself included, intend to head to the local cinema at the end of July to see this highly anticipated film, people are still anxious to see such a provincial text adapted to iMax screens.
Another film being questioned for its casting is the upcoming adaptation of Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’, directed by Emerald Fennel. Fennel, who has worked with both the lead actors before on 2023’s ‘Saltburn’ - Elordi as an actor and Robbie as a producer, has been known for her raunchy, cinematic storytelling of which many were anxious about how it would translate into Bronte’s gothic novel. Discourse online arose when Heathcliff, the male lead who is implied to be a man of colour (with Bronte describing him as ‘a dark-skinned gypsy’) was announced as being portrayed by Elordi. Some have also questioned the choice to place the name of the film in quotation marks leading people online to theorize that perhaps this novel is a self-insert to some capacity, with Robbie’s character imagining herself into the gothic novel. However, Fennel herself has inadvertently addressed the concerns regarding the adaptation:
“but the thing for me is that you can’t adapt a book as dense and complicated and difficult as this book. I can’t say I’m making “Wuthering Heights”. It’s not possible. What I can say is that I’m making a version of it. There’s a version that I remember reading, that isn’t quite real and there’s a version that I wanted stuff to happen that never happened. And so, it’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ but it isn’t. But really, I’d say that any adaptation of a novel, especially a novel like this, should have, you know, quotation marks around it.”
Despite all the controversy online, many still intend to see ‘Wuthering Heights’ when it releases on Friday 13th February 2026, ready to examine it critically through the lenses of a literature student.
https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/director-emerald-fennell-explains-why-223550778.html
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt32897959/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_wuth
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt33764258/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_odyssey
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRANnTtM/
SIMON, KAROL, SAV, ABRAR, ELLIE
