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Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I'd Love To See In A Present Day Setting


Happy Tuesday everyone!  Welcome to the Top Ten Tuesday now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is a Character Freebie so that gives me some free rein.  Today, I'm focusing on characters that I'd love to see in a present day setting - think the BBC's Sherlock or even Ichabod Crane in the tv series Sleepy Hollow - in either book, movie, or tv format.  Here we go, in alphabetical order by title:


The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe #1) by Raymond Chandler - I love the Phillip Marlowe movies (Humphrey Bogart is great but Dick Powell is my favorite to play the detective) and I'd like seeing a modern update like James Bond.  I'd like to see how the character would operate in the present.


The Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe - "William Wilson" is one of short stories I've always enjoyed.  I've never seen any kind of adaptation of it, but I have a feeling this tale of doppelgangers could be particularly creepy with a modern update.


Double Indemnity by James M. Cain - Personally, I'd like to see a YA retelling of this story from Lola and Nino's perspectives.  That could be pretty awesome if you ask me.


Dracula by Bram Stoker - Quincey Morris is usually left out of adaptations or conflated with Arthur Holmwood.  I think I'd like to see the character lead his own story or an update on the tale, especially since he has prior knowledge of blood drinkers.  If this got on screen modern twist, I think it'd be cool to see something in the format of the John Cho movie Searching.


Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - It's so rare that there's a screen adaptation of this story that feels faithful to the Shelley's story.  I have to admit thought that I'd like to see present day retelling set in that primarily focuses on Elizabeth or Henry and their relationships to Victor.


Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Basically, I just like to finally read My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.  I'd also like to know what Jane herself would be like if she were around these days.


My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - I don't know how well Jeeves would work now, but I'd like to see the character as a best of the best personal assistant to like a wealthy movie or tv star take on Bertie.


Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Mallory - Honestly, I just want more of Angus Imrie's young Merlin from The Kid Who Would Be King or Colin Morgan's Merlin taking up from where we left him when Merlin ended.


Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - I don't know about you, but I'd like to see Catherine lead a present day set YA retelling by Ashley Poston.  As long as it isn't like Val McDermid's attempt, anyway.


Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - I'd like a modern retelling featuring Mrs. Danvers as the lead character, or perhaps Rebecca herself.


What do you think?  Would you like to see these as well?  What characters would you like to see in the here and now?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!

Comments

  1. I'd love to see a Marlowe in a modern day seting!

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  2. Great twist on this topic! I think a modern day Rebecca could be really interesting, and I totally agree with you about Frankenstein - I've yet to see an adaptation that captures the mood of the book.

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  3. This was a fun list! It's true that so many writers do retellings these days, but they are often twisted and become so different from the original books. I'd love to see some of these updated as well😁

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    1. I definitely appreciate a good retelling, but there are some I'm still hoping to see. :)

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  4. I would totally read a Modern Day Northanger Abbey by Ashley Poston :D That sounds amazing

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  5. I never read Val McDermit's version of Northanger Abbey. Guess I'll skip it. My TTT Characters list

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    1. It just wasn't for me.

      Thanks for sharing, Anne.

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  6. Really interesting topic here. We kind of, sort of get this with retellings. Crane was from the past living in the present, right? So, you are imagining the characters in this time period, but with their understanding of the world from their own time? That is always interesting. Seeing the modern world through a lens from the past.

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    1. True. There are still more retelling I'd like to see. Most are these are case by case, but mostly I'd like to see how they would be if they're from the here and now. Either way though, Crane was such a great character in that series. :)

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  7. I like what you did with this prompt! It's so unique. Now I'm trying to come up with my own characters I would like to see in another setting.

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    1. I love to see your picks. Thanks for coming over!

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  8. Such a fun idea! It worked so well with Sherlock and Ichabod Crane, it should work for more characters as well.

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  9. This is such an interesting topic! I think Jane Eyre would be interesting to see in a modern adaptation and I think I need to check out My Plain Jane now! 💖

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  10. What a fun idea. I think any Edgar Allan Poe would be fascinating in a modern setting. I love his work.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  11. Such a cool list! I'd definitely agree with Jane and Elizabeth from Frankenstein. I also agree that the Frankenstein adaptations are always all over the place. I haven't yet read Northanger Abbey. I'm actually starting it in a few days. I'm hoping to read Rebecca soon, too.

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  12. This is so much fun, Lauren! Love how you spin this topic. Seeing some of the lesser known Jane Austen books re-told would be SO much fun - and I also really want to read the 'Lady Jane' series. :) Thanks for visiting Finding Wonderland last week.

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