When the credits roll and the studios start counting their profits (or losses), some stories continue, often through the medium of TV.
It was once the case that TV was the lesser sibling of the silver screen. For several years now, this has not been the case, with some of the greatest shows ever to grace our smaller screens having been released in the 21st century.
In this article, we’re taking a look at the best film-to-TV adaptations to have been released since 2000.
The Best Film-to-TV Adaptations Since 2000
Fargo
One of the best series of the century so far is Fargo, which is based on the 1996 Coen Brothers film of the same name. Most impressively, the series captures the unique tone of the original, combining black humour with a distinct visual style. Fargo, with four season under its belt to date, uses an anthology format, which has helped to keep it fresh.
Westworld
Since 2016, Jonathan Nolan has been adapting Westworld (1973) for the small screen. After three seasons, it was cancelled due to high production costs, but that said, the production value is excellent and evident on screen, and the fantastic setting of a futuristic Western-themed amusement park makes this show a very easy watch.
Cobra Kai
Based on the Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai is set 34 years after the events of the original, and follows Johnny Lawrence as he reopens an infamous dojo and attempts to redeem his reputation. It proved massively popular, and has even recently led to another film based on the Karate Kid series, Karate Kid: Legends. This is a perfect example of the mutually beneficial relationship so often enjoyed by film and TV.
Bates Motel
Functioning as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), Bates Motel is a gripping 50-episode series. Immaculately played by Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga, Norman and Norma develop their infamously odd relationship over the course of the show. After many lackluster big-screen sequels and one pointless shot-for-shot remake, Bates Motel shows how TV can reinvigorate a seemingly spent property like Psycho.
Adaptations Beyond the Small Screen
Film spin-offs can take a number of different forms beyond television. Successful film franchises have spawned short films, graphic novels, stage productions and much more. Because of the desire for audiences to become further immersed in their favourite franchises, one area where film and TV IPs do particularly well is in the world of gaming.
Video games based on films have been around pretty much since video games first entered the mainstream. One particularly good recent example was Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, based on its respective franchise from the 80s and onwards.
Familiar characters and settings make it easier for players to expect certain positive experiences from the get-ho, so basing a game on an established franchise is a surefire way of getting people interested.
Consequently, a particularly modern development is the online slot game, of which releases based on films and TV shows are common. The Walking Dead, King Kong and The Goonies, to name a few, have all been made into successful slots. We can therefore surely expect to see more film IPs penetrate the world of online bingo in the near future. Some TV show formats also, such as Deal or no Deal, have already successfully made this transition, and others may well follow.
It seems that producers are getting better and better at making great TV based on our favourite films, adaptations in other areas of media are far from slowing down, and studios are becoming less and less willing to take risks on original IPs. For these reasons, it seems that film and TV adaptations, which every way round it occurs, are going to be a mainstay of the landscape for some time.
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