Do you think on-screen characters need to look like there description in books?

[MrPickles13]

I want to preface this by saying I apologise for any poor wording, it's not easy for me to put the right words in places for stuff like this. I'm sorry about the rambling in the question.

I'm someone who loves to read and I've always normally been excited to see film and TV adaptions but often they always fail to live up to the mark either the characters don't match the description, they have the wrong personality or they cut good events and make up new ones.

I guess the easiest example is the new Percy Jackson series being made. I really struggle to see Percy and Annabeth in the characters as they don't match the description. I know they are both very good at acting and have a lot of talent but I can never see the character in them, as I always have been able to picture things quite well from a description. I'm curious if this is common?

I'd also like to know your thoughts on if it's okay to struggle with this. As really at the current time it feels like it's not something you can think.

I really hope I've made sense and would really like to know people's thoughts on this, I am once again sorry for any poor wording or rambling.

Yes

No

[OGname2]

I would absolutely prefer them to look like the character, but it's much more important to me that they act like them and that the actor is actually good.

I also tend to not really base what the characters look like in my head on the description in the book so much. I'll read an entire book series picturing a character with the wrong hair colour for no reason 😅

[MrPickles13]

I do see what you mean with them acting like the character being important. I just find if they don't look alike as well I can't see them as that character and part of the series.

That is fair enough with the different picturing, it's very interesting you do that.

I think the only time I've done that is if I miss read something.

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my question. I really appreciate it.

[Nikki1989]

Yes. That is another reason why books are almost always better than movies.

[MrPickles13]

Your right books are definitely supior.

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my question.

[WhiteSteve]

Depends if it’s important to the story, essential to the character, etc. Otherwise…. I probably didn’t even read the book, so…🤷‍♂️😂

[Anonymous]

No, not necessarily.