Movie adaptations of popular books are often harshly criticized by fans of the novels. Phrases like, “the book was so much better,” are not uncommon to hear when leaving the theatre due to changes that occur from translating text into film. Recently, Excalibur was offered the opportunity to speak with Rick Yancey, the author of The 5th Wave, to glean information on whether or not this adaptation is worth the watch.
The novel is part of a series that follows the story of Cassie, a young woman who is trying to survive and protect her younger brother in a post-apocalyptic world. The story delves into issues of trust and explores the lengths people will go to once rules are thrown out.
Yancey says he is “fascinated by the idea of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances” and hopes the film captures the essence of this idea. The most surprising revelation of the interview is that the author himself has not actually seen the final product and had little to do with the adaptation itself. That said, he did speak with the producers often, so one can hope that his vision will still be captured by the film. He notes that the audience should realize that there are parts of the novel that are not possible to translate into film. He says that as the author, he has to keep in mind that the Cassie in his mind will not be a carbon-copy of the Cassie in the movie, which is something that the audience should also be cognizant of.
Regarding the appeal that this movie will have on post-secondary students, Yancey says he used universal themes that will appeal to people regardless of age. The author himself has a background in visual arts, stating that he was always fascinated by the medium of film and took many screenwriting courses while in school. As an English BA graduate, he began teaching English while also pursuing acting and directing on the side.
The movie will be released this Friday, January 22nd. If you’re a fan of the novels or just have an interest in post-apocalyptic stories in the same vein as The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent, it may just be a pleasant surprise for you.
Marie Lane, Contributor
Featured image courtesy of Columbia Pictures
