✨ Welcome back to another week of LTB! ✨
Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and myself! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.
This week’s topic is:
Casting in Adaptations
Prompts: Casting in book-to-film adaptations is always a big topic, and recently, the Wuthering Heights movie starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi has been the source of a lot of controversy. Other 2026 high-profile adaptations include Project Hail Mary, out March 20th, and the new Hunger Games movie, set to release in the fall, both for which the casting has been received more positively. What is most important to you with casting for book-to-film adaptations? Is the perfect hair colour, or right height or eyes always a must, or is personality more important? When are book-accurate looks in casting most important? What are your favourite—and least favourite—book-to-film adaptations when it comes to casting?
What is most important to you with casting for book-to-film adaptations? Is the perfect hair colour, or right height or eyes always a must, or is personality more important?
If I’m being honest, I don’t actually watch that many book-to-film adaptations! 😅 There are tons of movies and series on my to-watch list that I’m “keeping” for when I eventually read the book first, but some of these titles have been on there for ages. I fear they may never make it off at this rate, but I digress, lol. Despite not watching often, I do have thoughts about castings in adaptations!
While I think that there are certain instances where book-accurate appearances are extremely important in casting, I enjoy most when the chosen cast fulfills both the appearance and personality criteria. There are many times when I’ve been thrown off when a character looks wildly different to how I imagined them while reading (the casting of Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary being one of the most recent incidents), but at the same time, if an actor is able to capture the essence of the character (personality, vibes, etc.) to help bring them to life, I can “forgive” the departure in the physical changes, as long as it’s not too extreme either. I’ve heard about other readers who felt the same as I did re. Gosling, but who thought he did a great job portraying Grace, so that definitely makes me more curious to watch it!
When are book-accurate looks in casting most important?
I think book-accurate looks in casting becomes more important when it comes to being a large part of a character’s identity. If a character’s identity is deeply tied to their experiences and struggles in a story, then changing that in an adaptation takes a lot away from the essence of the story. This, I think, is particularly important when it comes to BIPOC characters and who gets to play them on screen.
I think this was why there was a lot of backlash with the “Wuthering Heights” casting of Elordi as Heathcliff when he’s described as ‘darker skinned’ and being of a certain heritage. That “otherness” plays a massive role in shaping who he ends up becoming and I think casting someone like Elordi to play him took away that deeper layer of meaning in Heathcliff’s character arc.
Note: I haven’t watched the adaptation and I know a lot of people are saying it’s nothing at all like the book (that’s why it’s “Wuthering Heights” not Wuthering Heights) with its romanticization of this story that is much more tragedy than romance, but I can understand why people were upset about it!
What are your favourite —and least favourite—book-to-film adaptations when it comes to casting?
One example that immediately comes to mind about least favourite adaptations is Netflix’s recent-ish adaptation of Persuasion. I’m ngl, friends, that adaptation made me really sad. 🥲 I didn’t mind Dakota Johnson’s casting as Anne however, the way she was portrayed is a whole other cookie. The modern, witty, sarcastic and very “self-aware narrator” tone shifted the vibes of the story entirely. It gave the adaptation a much more rom-com feeling that felt so… Untrue to the original Austen, and unfortunately, I kind of loathed it. 😮💨
An adaptation that I enjoyed overall, but have some conflicting feelings about is The Thursday Murder Club (another Netflix adaptation). The cast was definitely not how I pictured them in my head, but were fine for the most part. I think what could’ve been done better however, was capturing the deeper warmth, charm and heart of the characters and the stories. I know, this was just an introduction to them and that I could end up loving them more as the series continues—and I so hope it continues!—but yeah, I was expecting a little bit more from this one. I’m biased though because having read the entire series I’ve become deeply attached to these characters, though I know a lot of people have enjoyed this adaptation a lot.
There’s one upcoming adaptation (another Netflix one, I fear) that I’m looking forward to, which is Remarkably Bright Creatures. I watched the trailer the other day and I’m excited to say that the chosen cast actually does look like how I pictured them and the storyline seems quite true to it as well. Bonus points too for making Cameron come across as less of a man baby than he did in the book, haha! 🤭
At the moment, I honestly can’t think of many adaptations that I’ve read, watched, and loved, but the first one that sticks out is the 2025 Pride and Prejudice adaptation. I know that one has its haters but you won’t find any of that in this space! 😂 I think it strikes the perfect balance with an entire cast that look the part, but who also do an exemplary job of embodying the in-book characters and bringing them to life. Maybe I’m biased, but I think they did well in capturing the authenticity of the characters and their interactions, and that’s why I love and regularly rewatch this movie. 💜
Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers who joined the discussion this week! 👇🏽
Raji @ Worlds Unlike Our Own
Abyssal Librarian
Elle @ Unwrapping Words
Emma @ Pages of Emma
Nicky @ The Bibliophibian
If I’ve missed your post this week, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments, and I’ll add you to this week’s list of community posts ASAP!
What about you, reader? What is most important with casting for book-to-film adaptations? What are your favourite (or least favourite) adaptations when it comes to casting?
dinipandareads 
I haven’t watch TV or a movie since 2019, so I cannot say I have watched any recent adaptations, but I agree with you that if there is something important about the character’s physical attributes that is connected to their identity, you have to keep it. Like keep Ariel’s red hair in the little mermaid. I supposed I subscribe to the type of casting they do for plays as well where the character can be of a different race unless race plays a role in the story.
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