Unveiling the Vision: Red, White & Royal Blue Director's Bold Changes – The Ultimate Decision-Making Breakthrough

Summary

Director Matthew Lopez explains why major changes were made to the source material of Red, White, & Royal Blue for the movie adaptation.

The changes involve the exclusion of June, Alex's sister, and ensuring the reconciliation of Alex's parents. Additionally, the decision was made to replace Henry's grandmother with a grandfather, as Lopez prioritized creating a compelling film rather than adhering strictly to the original source material.

Director and co-writer Matthew Lopez recently discussed the significant alterations in the film adaptation of Red, White, & Royal Blue. In an interview with People, he explained the reasons behind these changes, such as excluding Alex's sister June, portraying Alex's parents as a couple instead of divorced, and replacing Henry's grandmother with a grandfather. Lopez emphasized that the key was to create a compelling movie rather than a strictly faithful rendition of the book. He stated, "When I shifted my focus to delivering a captivating film, all the necessary decision-making fell into place."

As the director of a movie, you have a distinct set of responsibilities compared to the author of a book. In my opinion, the duration of the audiobook should be reduced by two hours to determine the content not present in the movie. Only elements related to Alex and Henry should be included in the film; anything else should be omitted. Such is the inherent logic of storytelling in movies. In fact, there are less than 20 seconds in the entire film where either Alex or Henry are not present. While I made decisions that I may need to explain to the fans later, I knew that prioritizing the best interest of the film was essential. Being a fan myself, I understood that delivering a remarkable film was the most effective way to please the fans. Once I recognized that as my mission and responsibility, all decision-making became clear.

Even With Its Changes, The Movie Is Still Red, White, and Royal Blue

There could be several reasons for the alterations made in Red, White, & Royal Blue. One possible motive behind changing Henry's grandparent from a Queen to a King could be the inclusion of the distinguished openly gay actor Stephen Fry (who is also a member of the Heartstopper cast). Additionally, this decision might have been influenced by the consideration of Queen Elizabeth II's declining health, as she sadly passed away a month after the conclusion of production. Generally, these modifications tend to be either superficial or aimed at simplifying the world surrounding Alex and Henry, thus allowing their romance to take center stage.

Due to the inherent differences between movies and novels, these kinds of changes are often necessary. Changes are frequently required because movies rely on visuals and do not easily convey characters' inner thoughts. Additionally, as Lopez pointed out, there is more opportunity to delve into subplots and minor characters in novels.

To transform Red, White, & Royal Blue from a 400-page novel and 12-hour audiobook into a two-hour movie, a significant amount of material had to be edited out. However, the movie successfully captures the crucial aspect of the novel: the complex and tense relationship between Alex and Henry. This element is essential for a proper adaptation, as demonstrated by the movie's critical acclaim.

Source: People