Article Overview
Disney's "Goosebumps" series has been a surprising success, proving that beloved book-to-screen adaptations can work well in a miniseries format.
Disney's ability to expertly handle intricate adaptations involving numerous characters and subplots is showcased through the show's skillfully intertwined storyline and inclusion of recognizable elements from the book series. Drawing hope from the triumph of "Goosebumps," it is anticipated that upcoming adaptations such as "Percy Jackson" and "Eragon" will likewise achieve success, as Disney incorporates valuable lessons from previous movie adaptations and remains faithful to the original source material.
Disney's next two novel adaptations are raising the hopes of book-to-screen movie fans, thanks to the surprising success of Goosebumps. Filmmakers have had a tough time adapting these novels in the past, but Goosebumps has had its own share of ups and downs, with multiple movies and series under its belt. The 2023 series on Disney+ takes a different approach from the original Goosebumps TV show, opting for a continuous narrative that incorporates many familiar elements from the series.
The Goosebumps series, available on both Disney+ and Hulu, revolves around five teenagers who become sleuths: Isaiah, the quarterback (played by Zack Morris); Margot, Isaiah's neighbor (played by Isa Briones); James, Isaiah's rich best friend (played by Miles McKenna); Isabella, often neglected and mistreated (played by Ana Yi Puig), who channels her frustrations through online trolling; and Lucas, an adrenaline junkie who has been seeking thrills since his father's death (played by Will Price). Together, they investigate the mystery surrounding Harold Biddle, a former student of their school who vanished 30 years ago, all while uncovering dark secrets from their parents' pasts. This more thoughtful and intricate storytelling approach in Goosebumps bodes well for Disney's future adaptations of books to the screen.
Percy Jackson & Eragon's Disney Adaptations Are More Promising After Goosebumps
Goosebumps has received positive reviews from both critics and audiences, proving to be a successful streaming venture for Disney. This is a significant achievement for Disney, as it has been facing challenges with its major franchises and blockbuster films in 2023. Additionally, Disney has showcased its ability to effectively bring beloved novels into the format of miniseries. This is particularly promising for two of Disney's most ambitious book-to-screen adaptations: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, as well as Eragon. Both of these source-material book series have been highly acclaimed and popular bestsellers. However, their previous film adaptations have been plagued with difficulties.
The films based on Rick Riordan's stories about the young Greek demigod, Percy Jackson, were critically panned. These adaptations, starring Logan Lerman, were released around a decade ago. Similarly, 20th Century Fox's attempt to bring Christopher Paolini's novel, Eragon, to the big screen in 2006 was a major disappointment. While both movie adaptations generated decent revenue, they failed to launch the desired franchises for the studios. Furthermore, fans of the book series despised these adaptations, posing a significant challenge for any future endeavors by Disney.
Why Goosebumps Is A Good Sign For Disney's Future
Disney's Goosebumps series breaks away from the conventional approach of adapting R.L. Stine's books into separate episodes, taking a risk that ultimately pays off. It manages to bring something fresh yet familiar to both long-time fans and newcomers. The interconnected narratives of the Goosebumps tales showcase Disney's ability to adapt complex books with large casts, intricate lore, and multiple storylines. With the success of Goosebumps, Disney may find another hit with Percy Jackson, which promises to deliver a sprawling, epic story spanning multiple seasons. Both Percy Jackson and Eragon demand meticulous attention to detail as fantasy epics, and while they may be considered risky based on past movie adaptations, Disney's commitment to capturing the essence of the source material is evident in both Goosebumps and Percy Jackson. The unexpected triumph of Goosebumps not only instills confidence in Disney's future book adaptations, but also increases the likelihood of more projects being given the green light.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the upcoming adaptations of Percy Jackson and Eragon by Disney. The success of Goosebumps has shown that Disney can successfully adapt beloved book series into miniseries format. I am particularly excited about Percy Jackson, as I have been a fan of the book series for many years. I am confident that Disney will do a great job of bringing the characters and stories to life on screen.
However, I also have some concerns about these adaptations. I am worried that Disney will make the same mistakes that were made in the previous Percy Jackson and Eragon movies. For example, I am concerned that Disney will whitewash the characters or change the storylines too much. I hope that Disney will stay true to the source material and create adaptations that are faithful to the books.