So with the Wheel of Time in name only show being cancelled the usual suspects were out in force online calling book fans "toxic". This one fan of the show (who didn't read the books) asked me why I was happy about the show getting canceled and people losing their jobs. I told her that I was happy that it was cancelled because it was a major bastardization and didn't respect the source material. She couldn't understand that when you adapt a popular book series/comics the fans of the series have an expectation of a somewhat faithful adaptation at least. They act like we don't understand that you can't do a straight one for one adaptation.
I could've been more diplomatic but I told her that I have reached the point where I hate modern day adaptations because they attract normies like her who clap like a seal because the show craps all over the source material and adds the usual current year crap. She was never a fan to begin with. She called me a jerk.
Probably the easiest thing to do with an adaptation or period piece is to get the racial demographics correct. When they can't do that, then I know their priorities. I guess it just annoys me how they act like we don't understand that you have to streamline a large book series and that some changes have to be made due to the medium.
I'm honestly looking forward to the day when AI can just make a movie based on a command you give. I'll probably start with Moon is a Harsh Mistress or UBIK.
Rant aside, but why do y'all think that the entertainment industry seems to despise fans of the source material or make ridiculous changes and then use the "well we can't do a one for one adaptation" excuse?
I'd say a good chunk of it is because there's a lot of ego's involved. Horrible people in arrogant circles with other horrible people in what has increasingly become a soul sucking industry.
Showrunners and company spokesman only care about spinning a narrative that makes the product look good to investors. Maximize their marketing appeal and minimize criticism, no matter how valid it might be. Fans aren't considered a cost effective source of revenue to please.
The writers themselves give almost zero fucks about telling a good story. They hate their jobs and they have no passion for creativity even if they ever used to. They're only there for the paychecks and to keep their career alive. And sometimes they'll pull asshole moves in their work just to piss people off as some kind of revenge or outlet, or because they simply think it's funny to piss on anything that can make a person happy.
Actors are much the same way, only more oblivious and less deliberate in their actions. Following trends no matter how stupid or horrible they are because that's just "part of the job".
And investors aren't quite what they used to be in the industry either. I mean obviously they're motivated by profit in some way or another, but how they value a product or a company has shifted drastically somehow. And I suspect DEI is only the tip of the ice berg there.