Does Apple TV+ Have An Unhealthy Obsession With Adapting Novels To Shows?

Unless you’ve been living on a secluded island or Amish country, adaptations of novels to screen is not a new concept …

The post Does Apple TV+ Have An Unhealthy Obsession With Adapting Novels To Shows? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Unless you’ve been living on a secluded island or Amish country, adaptations of novels to screen is not a new concept to you.

It’s become one of the most common formulas for creating movies and TV shows.

From Netflix to Amazon, everyone wants a piece of the action.

While not every project is a knockout, audiences have seen some successful franchises flourish from this method.

Just off the top of my head are the Harry Potter movies, Twilight, Hunger Games, 50 Shades of Grey, and even the Bridget Jones movies.

And it’s not just the big screen. TV saw the opportunity and jumped on board with shows like The Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, Percy Jackson, and The Witcher.

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We likely have the 1697 classic Cinderella to thank for our current state of adaptations. The fairytale was the first book to be made into a movie in 1950.

Although streaming services are the biggest adaptors, some apps take things too far.

Over fifty percent of Apple TV+’s shows in the last five years have all been novel-to-screen adaptations.

Apple TV+ Doesn’t Leave Kids Out Just Because They Don’t Have Credit Cards

Because novels host a whole plethora of genres, the media has been a shortcut to stories for all age groups over the years.

So, it’s unsurprising that a streaming giant like Apple TV+ would have optioned kids’ books for families and young viewers.

While children aren’t exactly signing up for streaming services, kids can be a great motivator for parents. Who doesn’t love a family TV night?

First up, there is Amber Brown, based on Paula Danziger’s book series from the ‘90s.

The show follows Amber Brown, a multiethnic girl navigating the typical pitfalls of growing up while dealing with her parents’ divorce. It’s heavy stuff for kids.

Then there is Surfside Girls, which is based on the graphic novels by Kim Dwinell.

The Apple TV+ series focuses on best friends Jade and Sam when they encounter a ghost who tells them about a pirate ship and curse surrounding the hidden treasure of Surfside.

They may be shows for children, but Apple TV+ knows how to cherry-pick some exciting stories for kids.

Comedy Is The Kind Of Genre That Flourishes When It Goes From Page To Screen

Still, the streamer’s catalog of shows for adults far exceeds that for its younger viewers.

If there is one thing every person on the planet can agree on, one of the best feelings is laughter.

Comedy can be tough to get across on the written page as tone can be challenging to nail down.

However, when an author gets it right, the humor usually translates and magnifies when the novel is adapted for the small or big screen.

Film and TV creators can flesh out projects and enhance the story through a multitude of visual elements and components.

If you’ve seen Palm Royale starring Kristen Wigg, based on the book Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel, then you know a splash of color goes a long way in storytelling.

Even Vince Vaughn’s show, Bad Monkey based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name, makes sure the physical comedy and visual humor match up to the eccentricity of the book.

Novel-to-screen adaptations are also a great way to bridge language barriers.

Land of Women stars Eva Longoria in a series based on Sandra Barneda’s novel of the same name, but in Spanish, and toes the line between English and the native language of its characters.

There are plenty of laughs from books to be had at Apple TV+, including The Big Door Prize, based on M.O. Walsh’s novel of the same name.

But these kids and comedy shows aren’t why we are concerned with Apple TV+’s obsession with adaptations.

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Apple TV+ Is The Originator And Instigator Of The Drama

Have you ever heard the phrase “too much of a good thing?” Well, the same goes for any TV or film genre. And Apple TV+ seems to have its hooks in as many dramatic stories as possible.

Most of the streamers’ series fall under drama, and most of those shows are based on novels.

Let me clarify that every single streaming app develops stories from books, whether literary or graphic.

However, Apple TV+ seems to exclusively work with adaptations, at least in the last five years, with more on the way.

Still, it has to be said that the stories the executives are choosing offer an out-of-this-world level of entertainment.

Especially when that drama is introduced with comedic flair, profoundly dark undertones, or science fiction that makes you question reality.

The Rashida Jones sci-fi show Sunny, based on The Dark Manual by Colin O’Sullivan, has been a whirlwind of comedy, drama, and thriller action.

There’s actually a point to be made in favor of Apple TV+. Even though the app is shelling out show after show, a huge name is always attached to every project.

Take, for example, Lady in the Lake, based on Laura Lippman’s 2015 novel of the same name.

It stars Natalie Portman as a Jewish woman who leaves her life behind when she pursues her dreams to be an investigative journalist after a local woman is found dead in a lake.

If you like visual fever dreams with a masterclass in acting and a mind-boggling story, this is the career-defining series for you.

And it’s not just that show, but a whole roster of one series based on a book of the same name after another. It’s a long list.

Defending Jacob, The Mosquito Coast, Lisey’s Story, Foundation, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Pachinko, Shining Girls, The Essex Serpent, Five Days at Memorial, Shantaram, The Last Thing He Told Me, Silo, City on Fire, The Changeling, Lessons in Chemistry, The Buccaneers, Masters of the Air, and Dark Matter.

Whew!

Of course, we have to include the upcoming Cate Blanchett series Disclaimer, about a journalist who discovers she is the main character in a novel that reveals a dark secret from her past.

Just When You Think Apple TV+ Can’t Get Any More Dramatic, It Renews Its Library Card For More Intense Adaptations Starring Heavyweight Hollywood Names

Wait, you didn’t think we were done yet, did you? Oh, gentle reader, we had a legitimate reason to be concerned with Apple TV+’s use of adaptations.

That said, some shows make us understand why the streamer would be so enthusiastic about the novel-to-screen method.

For one thing, it’s how we got the amazing series The Morning Show, based on Brian Selter’s 2013 book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.

Remember what I said about star power? The Morning Show boasts not one but two heavyweight Hollywood names.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon play journalists with contrasting personalities who bring their own set of baggage and issues to their news station.

Apple TV+ has always dished out award-winning shows. Even though some don’t always hit the mark, the streaming service is covering the walls with adaptation after adaptation.

Those include Truth Be Told, Slow Horses, Roar, Black Bird, The Crowded Room], Manhunt, Franklin, and Presumed Innocent.

So, whether Apple TV+ is obsessed with adapting novels to shows or has just figured out a sure-fire formula is anyone’s guess.

One thing for sure, though, is that the streaming giant has been making waves in quality television, so there may be a correlation.

Either way, you can count on me to be glued to my TV screen watching every perfectly packaged project Apple TV+ throws TV Fanatic’s way.

Which of the streamer’s many adaptations have you seen?

Will you be watching Cate Blanchett in her new miniseries, Disclaimer?

Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we review all your favorite new and returning Apple TV+ shows!

The post Does Apple TV+ Have An Unhealthy Obsession With Adapting Novels To Shows? appeared first on TV Fanatic.