There could be a lot of inconsistencies when a fantastic novel is adapted for the big screen. Indeed, the directors already have a plot that has received widespread approval. But turning a novel into a movie still stands under a lot of pressure from fans and authors. For example, they must consider which actor fit the role or who enables to earn the best box office revenue. As a result, sometimes an actor does such a good job, though he or she doesn't fit the author's description. But sometimes, because of the physical differences between actors and characters, they disappoint their fans and viewers.
Well, nothing is more upsetting than seeing your favorite book characters portrayed in a different way in the film. Today we are talking about book and movie differences in terms of characters. Here are some examples of actors who did not really fit the original description of the character they portrayed. Keep reading for more details!
Eugenia Phelan, also known by her nickname 'Skeeter,' is described as an excessively tall and skinny woman in the book, which suggests that Emma's physical appearance is far from identical to that of the book. She is supposed to have blonde hair that is cut above her shoulders as it has a tendency to frizz. This character always dresses in clothes that someone else picked out for her, and the same can be said for this character in the film.
In the book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, the main character Alice is a 7-year-old girl, but this is not verified. But Alice is presented as a 19-year-old lady in Tim Burton's adaption, where she is portrayed by Mia Wasikowska.
The Veronica Roth saga's cinematic adaptations included Shailene Woodley as the lead. However, she is completely unlike her character Tris in terms of appearance. She is characterized as having lengthy, elongated face, huge blue eyes, and blonde hair.
"I am....Drac-u-la. I bid you welcome." Lugosi will forever be remembered as the blood-sucking Count Dracula from Transylvania in Tod Browning's classic horror movie. A true adaption of Bram Stoker's novel of the same name, Dracula rides on atmosphere, mood, and the sweeping movements of its title character. Although Bela Lugosi is very attractive and gallant, his characterization is nothing like the one in the book, which presents the monster as a “tall, clean-shaven old man, except for a long white mustache, and dressed in black from head to toe, without a single spot of color anywhere.”
Jo March, a character in the book Little Women, stands out by her age of 15, light brown hair, and gray eyes. However, it appears that when Saoirse Ronan was cast in the 2019 adaption, such characteristics were neglected.
There have been numerous Sherlock Holmes films, but this one may have been the furthest from the way the detective was presented in the literature. It seemed really strange that Robert Downey Jr. was cast as history's most well-known detective. He is not physically similar to the fictional p, who is described as being over 6 feet tall and incredibly wiry, giving the impression that he is much taller.
Kenneth Branagh's acting skills are indisputable, which Chris Colombus certainly used as justification for casting him as the contentious Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the second Harry Potter movie. However, we probably thought of a younger actor who was more "attractive" and in line with the book's description.
If you mix the clown from both of the adaptations, only then do you get the perfect Pennywise depicted in the books. Stephen King skillfully created this character who dresses in an entirely silver suit with orange buttons and bears a white skin tone. In the television adaptation, he is seen as a bald, white-faced clown with a crown of red hair around his head who has orange buttons, gloves, and a full-body yellow suit; he also occasionally carries balloons in his hand. In the film adaptation, he wears an old silver Victorian clown costume with white lace cuffs, pom-poms, and red thread embroidery adorning his attire.
The character of Edward Rochester in Charlotte Bronte's novel is not attractive. In fact, the author purposefully paints him in that light to further the plot of her story. However, Michael Fassbender did not have a serious expression or thick eyebrows in the 2011 movie adaption. He is everything but unattractive, in fact.
In the books, Katniss is described as a short, wiry 16-year old with “olive” skin, dark hair, and gray eyes. Katniss also grew up with very poor nutrition. Comparatively, Jennifer Lawrence is fairly tall and well-built, with naturally blonde hair and blue eyes (she dyed her hair darker or wore a brunette wig for the role of Katniss, she did not alter her appearance in any other way to match the character).
Despite the paradox that she is the Snow Queen's daughter, Elsa appears to have captured both young and old hearts with her morals, passion, and kindness. The queen is portrayed as a living ice queen in the original Hans Christian Andersen story, but in the adaption, she is shown to be a human.
Daniel Craig's success as James Bond has cemented his position in audience's hearts, but that doesn't imply he resembles the fictional character. The author has consistently portrayed Bond as a 5'9" guy with long hair that fell over his forehead.
Well, nothing is more upsetting than seeing your favorite book characters portrayed in a different way in the film. Today we are talking about book and movie differences in terms of characters. Here are some examples of actors who did not really fit the original description of the character they portrayed. Keep reading for more details!
#1 Skeeter — The Help
Source: © The Help / Dreamworks Pictures and co-producers
Eugenia Phelan, also known by her nickname 'Skeeter,' is described as an excessively tall and skinny woman in the book, which suggests that Emma's physical appearance is far from identical to that of the book. She is supposed to have blonde hair that is cut above her shoulders as it has a tendency to frizz. This character always dresses in clothes that someone else picked out for her, and the same can be said for this character in the film.
#2 Alice — Alice in Wonderland
Source: © Alice in Wonderland / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers
In the book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, the main character Alice is a 7-year-old girl, but this is not verified. But Alice is presented as a 19-year-old lady in Tim Burton's adaption, where she is portrayed by Mia Wasikowska.
#3 Beatrice “Tris” Prior — Divergent
Source: © Divergent / Summit Entertainment and co-producer
The Veronica Roth saga's cinematic adaptations included Shailene Woodley as the lead. However, she is completely unlike her character Tris in terms of appearance. She is characterized as having lengthy, elongated face, huge blue eyes, and blonde hair.
#4 Count Dracula — Dracula
Source: © Dracula / Universal Pictures
"I am....Drac-u-la. I bid you welcome." Lugosi will forever be remembered as the blood-sucking Count Dracula from Transylvania in Tod Browning's classic horror movie. A true adaption of Bram Stoker's novel of the same name, Dracula rides on atmosphere, mood, and the sweeping movements of its title character. Although Bela Lugosi is very attractive and gallant, his characterization is nothing like the one in the book, which presents the monster as a “tall, clean-shaven old man, except for a long white mustache, and dressed in black from head to toe, without a single spot of color anywhere.”
#5 Jo March — Little Women
Source: © Little Women / Columbia Pictures and co-producers
Jo March, a character in the book Little Women, stands out by her age of 15, light brown hair, and gray eyes. However, it appears that when Saoirse Ronan was cast in the 2019 adaption, such characteristics were neglected.
#6 Sherlock Holmes — Sherlock Holmes
Source: © Sherlock Holmes / Warner Bros. and co-producers
There have been numerous Sherlock Holmes films, but this one may have been the furthest from the way the detective was presented in the literature. It seemed really strange that Robert Downey Jr. was cast as history's most well-known detective. He is not physically similar to the fictional p, who is described as being over 6 feet tall and incredibly wiry, giving the impression that he is much taller.
#7 Gilderoy Lockhart — Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Source: © Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets / Warner Bros. and co-producers
Kenneth Branagh's acting skills are indisputable, which Chris Colombus certainly used as justification for casting him as the contentious Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the second Harry Potter movie. However, we probably thought of a younger actor who was more "attractive" and in line with the book's description.
#8 Pennywise — It
Source: © It / Green/Epstein Productions and co-producers, © It / New Line Cinema and co-producers
If you mix the clown from both of the adaptations, only then do you get the perfect Pennywise depicted in the books. Stephen King skillfully created this character who dresses in an entirely silver suit with orange buttons and bears a white skin tone. In the television adaptation, he is seen as a bald, white-faced clown with a crown of red hair around his head who has orange buttons, gloves, and a full-body yellow suit; he also occasionally carries balloons in his hand. In the film adaptation, he wears an old silver Victorian clown costume with white lace cuffs, pom-poms, and red thread embroidery adorning his attire.
#9 Rochester — Jane Eyre
Source: © Jane Eyre / Focus Features and co-producers
The character of Edward Rochester in Charlotte Bronte's novel is not attractive. In fact, the author purposefully paints him in that light to further the plot of her story. However, Michael Fassbender did not have a serious expression or thick eyebrows in the 2011 movie adaption. He is everything but unattractive, in fact.
#10 Katniss Everdeen — The Hunger Games
Source: © The Hunger Games / Lionsgate and co-producer
In the books, Katniss is described as a short, wiry 16-year old with “olive” skin, dark hair, and gray eyes. Katniss also grew up with very poor nutrition. Comparatively, Jennifer Lawrence is fairly tall and well-built, with naturally blonde hair and blue eyes (she dyed her hair darker or wore a brunette wig for the role of Katniss, she did not alter her appearance in any other way to match the character).
#11 Elsa — Frozen
Source: © Frozen / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producer
Despite the paradox that she is the Snow Queen's daughter, Elsa appears to have captured both young and old hearts with her morals, passion, and kindness. The queen is portrayed as a living ice queen in the original Hans Christian Andersen story, but in the adaption, she is shown to be a human.
#12 James Bond — Casino Royale
Source: © Casino Royale / Columbia Pictures and co-producers
Daniel Craig's success as James Bond has cemented his position in audience's hearts, but that doesn't imply he resembles the fictional character. The author has consistently portrayed Bond as a 5'9" guy with long hair that fell over his forehead.