‘The Perfect Couple’ Changed Lead Character’s Name to Avoid ‘Big Little Lies’ Similarities After Nicole Kidman Signed On

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‘The Perfect Couple’ Changed Lead Character’s Name to Avoid ‘Big Little Lies’ Similarities After Nicole Kidman Signed On

As a devoted fan of Elin Hilderbrand’s works, I was eagerly anticipating the adaptation of “The Perfect Couple” on Netflix. I must say, the transformation from Celeste to Amelia was intriguing, and it seems that Nicole Kidman‘s star power played a significant role in this decision. It’s fascinating to see how the creative process unfolds, with each director, actor, and writer contributing their unique touches to the story.

Viewers of Elin Hilderbrand’s “The Perfect Couple” may recognize Celeste, the central character who is on the verge of marrying into one of Nantucket’s most affluent families. However, in the Netflix version, the character portrayed by Eve Hewson has been renamed Amelia. This alteration can be traced back to Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman plays Greer, a character who is Amelia’s future mother-in-law and has gone all out in preparing for her son’s wedding. However, on the day of the ceremony, a corpse is found on the beach, causing the family’s hidden truths to surface one by one. The adaptation from book to series has undergone several modifications, with showrunner Jenna Lamia explaining that author Elin Hilderbrand granted her complete creative liberty to deviate from the original work

“Lamia explained to The Hollywood Reporter at the LA premiere that the project underwent numerous transformations over a five-year period due to various factors. Initially, it closely resembled the book. However, director Susanne Bier’s involvement altered some aspects, and once the cast was set, further changes were made. For instance, characters like Greer and Celeste had different names in the book but were changed for clarity, as Nicole Kidman plays a character named Celeste in Big Little Lies. To prevent confusion, this minor adjustment was made.”

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share my perspective on how Lamia creatively expanded the narrative. She introduced a third son of Greer and her husband Tag, portrayed by Liev Schreiber, to delve into a plotline revolving around first love. Even when it came to elements deeply rooted within the book’s characters, she skillfully found ways to bring them out and make them tangible and external, which is why the conclusion varies from the original story — although, I must refrain from disclosing any spoilers!

As a devoted admirer of Hilderbrand’s work, I’m thrilled to see her first novel adapted for the screen, and I eagerly await more adaptations in the pipeline. Among them is “The Five Star Weekend” on Peacock. Fingers crossed that this adaptation serves as a catalyst for all future projects, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in Hilderbrand’s cinematic journey

The author additionally expressed her openness to alterations in her story, stating, “I aimed for them to create the finest possible TV series. I wasn’t concerned about how they transformed the book. From the get-go, I told Jenna that I don’t consider this precious. Readers can explore the book before or after; it will offer a distinct experience due to its differences, and I simply wanted it to be a top-notch TV production.”

The show, a star-studded murder mystery centered on the elite, has drawn comparisons to Big Little Lies and The White Lotus, and happens to feature stars from both. Along with Kidman — who told red carpet reporters of the genre, “I like things where you just don’t know how they’re going to end and you go on the ride. So hopefully this show is a great ride” — Meghann Fahy also appears in the series, after her work on season two of The White Lotus.

Fahy mentioned that her accumulation of murder mystery projects hasn’t been deliberate, she explained: “I believe it’s less about what I enjoy and more about what people seem to appreciate, which is evidently this genre because it continues to appear frequently. It wasn’t something I actively pursued, but it also aligns with the type of series I would want to watch.”

The “Ideal Love Duo” featuring Billy Howle, Dakota Fanning, and Jack Reynor can now be streamed on Netflix

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2024-09-05 19:11