A Wish List of Mash-Up Novels
Things are looking good for Lily James.
After the success of "Cinderella", the Surrey native will be seen in another big-screen treatment of a hit novel. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" takes place in a parallel world (to 19th-century England), where Netherfield Park is swarming with the dreadful. They only want brain, and human flesh (if there are no gray matter). Mr. Bennet must train his five daughters in martial arts and swordsmanship. Jane Austen will fancy this freak version of her classic novel, where Elizabeth Bennet tries to be a fighter and a lady at the same time. Natalie Portman is originally attached to the project, but dropped out after there were no plans of production. Maybe it was really meant for James.
The celluloid version of Seth-Grahame Greene's graphic novel is scheduled for release next February. There's a good chance of it doing well in the box office, after the success of "Walking Dead". But the mash-up genre is nothing new. This is a classic piece of work combining element(s) from Horror fiction, and the result is as good as the original text. What happens to the other classic novels after a mash-up treatment? Close your eyes and imagine:
Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff went to the moors after finding out about Catherine's death. No one heard from him, except the feral sounds from the distance. He came back after a few days, which frightened the inhabitants of Thrushcross Grange. He seemed to be aggressive, even unafraid of Hindley. They also noticed his eyebrows forming a bushy line above his piercing eyes. Catherine's former nurse maid won't dare look at Heathcliff, as she knew the stories about a beast roaming the moor were real. Emily Brontë may have reservation, as her book described the conflicting feelings of her characters. The moor, untamed and mysterious, would play a part. Maybe the young author didn't encounter a wolf in Yorkshire.
War of the Worlds. The Martians wanted to invade Earth, but only for one reason. They liked to suck the life out of it. They killed every living being in Mars, gradually turning the planet into the dusty landscape it was known for. They set their sights on nearby planets, but they have no idea that garlic was abundant in this part of the Solar System. H.G. Wells would fancy this variation of his book. In fact, Hollywood screenwriters have thought of it. Don't mess up with the angry, red planet.
Nineteen Eighty-Four. Winston Smith believed he was the last man on Earth, but he couldn't confirm it. Big Brother was an omnipresent figure. He was lonely, until Julia came along. Why they didn't meet sooner? He also wondered her preference on dark places. This version don't have the political undertone, which George Orwell won't object at all. He had intelligent readers in mind.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Neighbors of Dr Jekyll were curious of his trip to Central Europe. He seemed to be a changed man. He had a guest. And there have been mysterious killings in the neighborhood. Robert Louis Stevenson would be intrigued at this update of his engrossing novella. Not for the faint-hearted readers, especially the part where the good doctor recounted his eerie experience during Walpurgis Night.
Orlando. A young nobleman was weary of the battles in the continent and the plague decimating the population. He was secretly yearning to end of his life. Something happened during one evening. He heard a strange sound above him. He only glimpsed the full moon and the mist in the distance. Blackness followed. When Orlando woke up, he found out about his transformation. A stranger appeared before him, a scholar from one of the small islands in the Aegean Sea. He was searching for followers, whom he would share his knowledge of the dark arts. Virginia Woolf might be appalled at the variation of her story, but she would need to look at the bigger picture.
