The Law of Adaptation

Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza) and Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd)

Season three of Netflix's Regency-era drama Bridgerton has become the streamer's most-watched English-language TV show, according to Forbes. However, the reception on the internet has been mixed due to structural changes in the books' narrative. Literary fans have expressed their disappointment over the substitution of a male character (Michael) for a female one (Michaela), to introduce a queer couple in future seasons - more on Business Insider. 

One Story, Two Narratives

In an interview with THR, showrunner Jess Brownell noted that while some changes are necessary, they plan to adapt the book closely. Julia Quinn, the author of the Bridgerton novel series, also addressed the issue, expressing her trust in Shonda Rhimes' vision and attempting to ease the tension among book fans.

"I ask that you grant me and the Shondaland team some faith as we move forward," she wrote. "I think we are going to end up with two stories, one on page and one on screen, and they will both be beautiful and moving." - excerpt from THR. 

The New Normal

Hollywood's new adaptations patterns (including books, remakes and franchises) don't apply only to LGBTQIA+ characters. Recent remakes have had big changes when it comes to cast, including colossal IPs such as Snow White and The Little Mermaid. Color-blind casting seems to have been the first big structural change in adaptation models, as we shared on Casting Light On. 

Progressively, the entertainment industry has been accepting inclusion and diversity as part of the new normal. One Day's remake (a 1988 David Nicholls' novel turned into a 2011 feature) went from the OG white couple to a mixed one (more on Harper's Bazaar). Inclusion is here to stay, but not always benefitting minorities. House of the Dragon producers picked a color-conscious cast, with one Asian actress and two black actors. But, according to part of the audience, they were assigned derogatory or misfit characters (Cosmopolitan echoes it). 

Conclusion: More Inclusion

While these changes spark conversations and controversy, diverse narratives reflect the evolving times and provide the most desired factor of the moment: casting inclusion. UCLA's 10th annual Hollywood Diversity Report found that more top TV shows featured racially and ethnically diverse casts during 2021-22, a trend that must continue, according to Forbes. 

Cheers, 

Laura and Duda 

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