On November 22nd, the highly anticipated movie rendition of Wicked hit the big screen. The original version of Wicked is based on a book by Gregory Maguire in 1995, which turned into a Broadway hit musical in 2003 on October 30th. After over twenty years, fans have returned to the world of Oz, rewatching a classic in a new way. This has become a common trend in pop culture in the past few years. For example, Disney has turned many of their original cartoon films into live-action versions.
Twenty-one different films have been remade to live-action since 1994 when they announced they were making a live-action version of “The Jungle Book.” Disney is not the only contributor nowadays; multiple film corporations have begun to rely on remakes of different movies and TV shows, turning them into brand-new films. These remakes started strong, allowing older audiences to relive the magic of watching their favorite movies and TV shows for the first time.
The sense of nostalgia allows original fans to want to watch the movie/show, ultimately giving it a safety net in terms of revenue. One of the biggest reasons why Hollywood has become obsessed with the idea of remakes is the money aspect. The production company has a safety net despite whether or not the movie will do well because people are addicted to nostalgia.
The current time that we live in can seem uncertain as to where we will go and has become stressful and confusing. Many people run back to shows and movies that they already love to escape reality and allow them to feel how they did when they first watched it, reminding them of an easier time. It isn’t a new phenomenon to have remakes and sequels, but due to the sheer amount of how many we have now, it has become repetitive.
There has been a lack of creative spark in the film industry, and I feel as though with the use of AI, it will only get worse. The growing use of AI has begun to highlight a growing fear that creativity will diminish as AI becomes more popular. One event last year showcased this. On May 2nd, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) went on strike, demanding increased compensation, residuals, and health plans. The strike was due to the change in the industry becoming more streaming-dominated rather than releasing in theaters. Another aspect of this strike was the fear among actors and writers of their jobs being lost to AI.
With the rise of AI, many people have shared this fear, yet it seems as though more and more people are relying on AI to help with day-to-day tasks. With Hollywood becoming more reliant on remakes and the dominating force of AI, it begs the question: “Are we clinging to comfort and nostalgia at the cost of innovation?” While these factors shape the future of the film industry it is important to lift up smaller voices and new stories, and ensure that storytelling will evolve to challenge and inspire us.
