Why Hollywood Keeps Missing the Mark with Proven IP

Let’s talk about Hollywood’s love-hate relationship with proven intellectual property (IP). Over the past few years, studios have shelled out enormous sums of money to acquire big-name franchises with built-in fan bases. Take the Tolkien prequel rights, for example—$250 million, all for the chance to tap into the massive fan base behind The Lord of the Rings.

It seems like a no-brainer, right? Millions of fans already love the material, so naturally, it should be an instant hit.

Except…that’s not how it plays out.

Here’s the kicker: Hollywood loves buying these proven stories, but they absolutely hate the source material. Instead of translating these beloved books directly to the screen, they can’t help themselves—they change everything. They tweak, adjust, and twist the original story so much that it barely resembles the source material. And then, when the die-hard fans inevitably get upset, they’re shocked.

A perfect example? Look no further than Tolkien himself. Instead of sticking to the genius of his books, Hollywood writers think they can improve upon the work of one of the greatest storytellers of all time. How does that work out? Well, the fans make their displeasure known, loud and clear.

Then, there’s the rare exception—Game of Thrones. The first six seasons were nearly word-for-word adaptations of George R. R. Martin’s books, and guess what? They’re considered some of the best television in history. Fans adored those seasons because the show stayed true to the story they loved. Then came seasons 7 and 8—written without the source material—and what happened? A massive fan backlash.

I’ve spoken with a lot of Hollywood writers, and there’s this strange belief that they can “improve” the original story. It’s like watching someone who’s never played football criticize Tom Brady from their couch. Sure, they might have some opinions, but can they really do it better than a seasoned pro?

Hollywood’s billion-dollar idea is simple: Stop changing the source material. Stick to the original creator’s vision. That’s what fans want. That’s what will bring them back.

It’s really not that complicated.

Why Hollywood Keeps Missing the Mark with Proven IP

Million Dollar Author