Emma, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield: Classics get the 2020 treatment

Bonnets, bats and bunnies — 2020 will see a host of much-loved novels and classics — like Oliver Twist or Jane Austen’s Emma — getting a thoroughly modern workover, Kerry Parnell writes.

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What the Dickens! Classic novels are getting a makeover. From a twisted Oliver to an updated Dracula and hipster Emma, here are new takes on old tales we will get this year and our verdict on whether they work …

THE VOYAGE OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE

The 1920s children’s books got their first big-screen treatment in the Oscar-winning 1967 movie with Rex Harrison and again in 1998 with Eddie Murphy. Now the animal-loving doctor is in cinemas with a mega-budget version with Robert Downey Jr, in cinemas this week. Reviews have been mixed with critics saying it’s more of a Pirates Of The Caribbean romp than classic tale and many questioning whether its will recoup its $US175 budget.

Verdict: Animal crackers

Robert Downey Jr as Dr Dolittle.

DRACULA

When the writers of the hit TV series Sherlock, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, got their teeth into Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the results were fangtastic. The new BBC
mini-series, currently streaming on Netflix, stars Claes Bang as Dracula and a marvellous Dolly Wells as Sister Agatha. Set in 19th century Transylvania and modern-day England, it’s goryous.

Verdict: Batty, but bloody good

Claes Bang as Count Dracula in the Netflix horror/drama Dracula.

EMMA

Before you say, “Another Emma,” the Gwyneth Paltrow version (inset) was 24 years ago. And now it’s had a millennial makeover thanks to hipster photographer Autumn de Wilde making her directorial debut. It stars ingenue Anya Taylor-Joy (main) as Emma, Bill Nighy as Mr Woodhouse and musician Johnny Flynn as Mr Knightley. And before you panic that he looks 15, he’s 36.

Verdict: Move over Gwynnie, Next Gen Emma is here

Anya Taylor-Joy (right) as Emma Woodhouse in the latest remake of Jane Austen’s classic novel.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Guy Pearce took on one of the biggest characters in literature as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol in December. Now on demand on Foxtel, this gothic remake of Charles Dickens’ much-loved tale split audiences, with many upset at the new plot and his use of the F-word. Although if you saw the ghost of Christmas Past, you’d probably swear too.

Verdict: Don’t be a miser, it’s great

Guy Pearce stars in A Christmas Carol.

DAVID COPPERFIELD

Poor old Dickens will be turning in his grave as movie makers literally lose his plots in their haste to update the master storyteller. Next up is The Personal History Of David Copperfield, directed by Armando Iannucci and starring Dev Patel as David Copperfield, Peter Capaldi, Gwendoline Christie, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong and Ben Whishaw. Light and funny, it’s a delightful comedy.

Make or break verdict: A modern remake that manages to be marvellous.

Dev Patel will hit the big screen this year in The Personal History Of David Copperfield.

PETER RABBIT 2

Even Beatrix Potter hasn’t escaped, with movie makers getting their paws on Peter Rabbit and bringing him into the modern day. The first remake appeared in cinemas in 2018 and now the hairy, lairy bunny is back for a second adventure in March. Peter is voiced by James Corden, with Rose Byrne as Beatrix, Margot Robbie as Flopsy and Elizabeth Debicki as Mopsy. Also filmed in Sydney, the first movie made $509 million worldwide. Enough said.

Verdict: Is it wrong to hate a rabbit?

Peter Rabbit 2 sends Beatrix Potter’s bunnies on another big adventure.

THE ELEPHANT MAN

The sad story of Joseph Carey Merrick, who found himself the centre of Victorian freak shows, was the topic of a book and David Lynch’s Oscar-nominated 1980 movie starring John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud and Anthony Hopkins. Forty years later, the BBC is turning it into a two-part biopic starring Stranger Things’ Charlie Heaton, airing later this year.

Verdict: We suppose it could work — Stranger Things have happened

Stranger Things’ Charlie Heaton will star in the Elephant Man.

REBECCA

There is much riding on this new Netflix adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel — especially when you have to try to better Alfred Hitchcock’s Oscar-winning 1940 version starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. No pressure then for Lily James, Armie Hammer, Keeley Hawes and Kristin Scott Thomas. Lily James told Insider: “It’s a period drama that’s not about the period — it’s not like the Hitchcock version.” Eek.

Verdict: Don’t mess up Manderley

Joan-Fontaine and Laurence Olivier in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic version of Rebecca.

TWIST

We are sure Charles Dickens purists shuddered at the 1968 musical Oliver! starring Ron Moody, Oliver Reed and Mark Lester, but it won five Oscars and became a family favourite.

Mark Lester in a scene from the much-loved musical version of Oliver Twist from 1968.

Half a century later, it’s back as Twist, which is an accurate description, as this modern version will skew everything. Out later this year, Oliver is played by Jude Law’s son Rafferty and Fagin by Michael Caine, with gender-swapping Sykes played by Game Of Thrones’ Lena Head and Rita Ora as “Dodge”. And it has a hip-hop soundtrack.

Verdict: Please sir, we don’t want some more

Originally published as Emma, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield: Classics get the 2020 treatment