Culture news “It’s much worse” George RR Martin, author of Game of Thrones, pulls no punches with one of the new fashions in the film industry
George RR Martin, author of Game of Thrones, is harshly critical of the trend of film and television adaptations, often calling them inferior to the original material. In a blog post, he reveals more about his point of view!
George RR Martin, famous author of the series of novels that inspired Game of Thrones, does not mince his words when it comes to criticizing film and series adaptations. In a recent blog posthe expressed frustration with the growing tendency of screenwriters and producers to “appropriate” great works of literature. During a meeting in 2022 with Neil Gaiman, creator of “The Sandman” and “Coraline”, the author had already raised this problem, saying that the situation had only gotten worse since then. He deplores that stories written by literary giants such as Stan Lee, Charles Dickens, or JRR Tolkien, are often distorted by adaptations that claim to improve them.
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A damning observation about modern adaptations
George RR Martin goes further in his analysis by asserting that almost all adaptations fail to surpass the original material and degrade the original work.
They never do it better. 999 times out of 1,000, they make them worse” – says George RR Martin
He cites recent examples, like “Game of Thrones,” which saw its quality decline after surpassing Martin’s still-unfinished books. The series, after eight seasons, has suffered increasing criticism for its narrative choices and its conclusion. House of the Dragon, while currently well-received, remains under the watchful eye of fans. The famous author remains skeptical about the upcoming adaptation of his series of novels, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” in the “Game of Thrones” universe.
Some exceptions to the rule
Despite his harsh opinion, Martin acknowledges that there are successful adaptations. He cites “Shōgun”, the television series based on the novel by James Clavell, as a rare example, which did justice to the original book. For him, these successes deserve to be celebrated, even if they are only “a few”. Today, this trend dominates the entertainment landscape, with works like “Dune 2,” “The Witcher,” and “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” The popularity of these adaptations, whether based on novels, manga, or anime, is a testament to the importance of these stories in modern culture. However, for Martin, the quest for quick profits and the arrogance of adapters continue to undermine the fidelity and quality of the original works.
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