Shakespeare Traditionalists Steer Clear of Modern West End Romeo & Juliet
This week, Shakespeare purists received a clear warning to avoid the new West End production of Romeo & Juliet, which stars Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe and boldly departs from the traditional script to explore alternative realities. The adaptation is squarely aimed at a younger demographic, likely unfazed by this fresh take on a 430-year-old tale, with the casting of Sink from Netflix's Stranger Things serving as a major draw.
Hollywood's Surge in Classic Rewrites for Younger Viewers
It is hardly surprising that this iconic story has been reimagined, as it follows a growing trend in Hollywood of adapting classic literature for Generation Z audiences. In recent years, films and TV shows have proliferated that might make original authors turn in their graves, yet they have successfully captivated the Gen Z crowd. The driving force behind this phenomenon is widely attributed to #BookTok, a vibrant subsection of TikTok where users critique books and share recommendations.
Originating during the pandemic, the #BookTok movement was initially praised for encouraging younger people to read rather than scroll through their phones while confined during lockdowns. However, it has since faced criticism for potentially reducing media literacy. TikTok's algorithm tends to promote fast-paced, trope-heavy, and romantic fiction over works with deeper literary merit, creating an echo chamber of suggestions. There is also an emerging pressure to prove one's love for reading, rather than simply enjoying the act itself.
BookTok Controversies and Reading Shortcuts
Examples of this shift include a bookfluencer who advised romanticising reading by choosing a cute outfit to wear while reading, framing it as a tip for learning to read. Meanwhile, a significant row erupted on BookTok after an influencer admitted to skipping big paragraphs in books. Miranda, known online as @probablyoffreading, sparked widespread debate with a now-deleted TikTok video where she stated, If there's a paragraph this big, I'm skipping it, I'm skipping it. She captioned the video with I can't be the only one, and others on the platform have confessed to only reading dialogue in books.
Another user, Beth (@thecool_table), even posted a guide on how to skip filler paragraphs when reading, sharing a speed-reading trick taught by a teacher that involves slanting your eye diagonally across the page to pick up words faster. Additionally, a bookfluencer from California, Yana (@yannareads), complained in a TikTok review that the novel Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo had too many words on every page. This video, though deleted, amassed 36 million views when reposted on X, formerly Twitter.
Critics have been quick to lambast BookTok, with some asserting it has lost the plot and others claiming influencers treat reading merely as a status symbol.
Recent Adaptations and Their Reception
Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights gained renewed attention due to Emerald Fennell's film adaptation, which featured Margot Robbie, 35, portraying teenager Cathy in a latex ballgown, resonating with Gen-Z audiences. However, many on TikTok admitted to quickly abandoning the novel or needing a brain break after reading just a few lines.
Another adaptation that raised eyebrows was the 2022 film version of Jane Austen's Persuasion starring Dakota Johnson, which inserted modern dialogue despite its 19th-century setting. In 2021, He's All That, a teen romcom featuring TikTok influencer Addison Rae, was savaged by critics, earning a pitiful 29% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nonetheless, it soared to number one on Netflix upon its release. This film is a gender-swapped remake of the 1999 movie She's All That, itself a modern adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's 1914 play Pygmalion and George Cukor's 1964 film My Fair Lady.
Upcoming Projects and Future Trends
Later this year, Netflix will release a series based on Austen's Pride and Prejudice, starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy. Scripted by Dolly Alderton, a well-connected newspaper agony aunt with previous experience as a story producer on Made In Chelsea, the series will retain the original setting but is described as a funny and sensual take aimed at modern audiences. Alderton's sole TV credit is the 2022 BBC adaptation of her memoir, Everything I Know About Love, which was a critical hit and streamed in the US.
Additionally, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is set for a TV adaptation with Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood in the lead role, while Normal People's Daisy Edgar-Jones has been cast in an upcoming movie adaptation of Austen's Sense & Sensibility. It remains to be seen whether these projects will stay true to the original works or receive a younger spin to appeal to contemporary viewers.
The ongoing debate highlights a cultural shift where classic literature is being reinterpreted through the lens of social media trends, challenging traditionalists while engaging new audiences in unprecedented ways.
