BBC's 'Great Expectations' goes 'woke' to appeal to younger audience
It has been revealed that the BBC's adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic book 'Great Expectations' has been given a new twist by 'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight. The classic novel by Dickens is the coming-of-age story of an orphan named Pip.
The show, which Knight wrote and executive produced for the BBC, is also executivly produced by Tom Hardy, Ridley Scott, Dean Baker, David W. Zucker, and Kate Crowe. It is scheduled to debut on the BBC on Sunday, March 26. The main character of the show, the criminal Magwitch, declares in one scene that the British Empire was "built on the lies of privileged white men," according to the Telegraph, demonstrating the show's strong anti-colonial stance.
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'Not an attempt to say the book is wrong or this is better'
When asked by the outlet if he was worried that his interpretation of the renowned story may enrage traditionalists, Knight responded, "It's everyone's right to react in the way they want to react. But I would say that the book exists, it is still there. This is not an attempt to say the book is wrong or this is better."
Knight allegedly also informed his cast that the adaption will try to shed the rigidity long associated with Victorian Britain. The 1861 novel has been transformed into a slightly more contemporary drama in the hopes of drawing in new and younger viewers. The plot is still set in the nineteenth century, nonetheless.
'Dunkirk' star Fionn Whitehead emphasized his desire for the BBC adaptation to make the classic book "more accessible for younger people." Whitehead will portray the orphan Pip, the main character of the novel, and is certainly no stranger to historical drama having previously appeared in 'Dunkirk'.
'Nurturing hatred of our past to appeal to young people'
On Twitter, many people have voiced their opinions over the BBC's rendition of the timeless classic, with one person writing, "They just can't stop injecting a woke mantra into classic literature. Nurturing hatred of our past to appeal to young people. I read the book at school. A moral tale."
Another person who feels indifferent about the changes wrote, "The greatest works, always return to its original state." A third person wrote, "Absolute madness.. a world gone Woke.. this generation is too sensitive." One person wrote, "I see the BBC have wokefied Great Expectations. No ideas of their own, just change someone elses and accept the plaudits from the woke. Disgraceful."
BBC’s series of Dickens ‘Great Expectations’ will be anti colonial & focus on ‘white privilege’.
— Patricia🇬🇧 (@Patricia344130) March 18, 2023
They just can’t stop injecting a woke mantra into classic literature. Nurturing hatred of our past to appeal to young people.
I read the book at school. A moral tale. #DefundTheBBC
I see the BBC have wokefied Great Expectations.
— Jim Bow (@JimBow716) March 15, 2023
No ideas of their own, just change someone elses and accept the plaudits from the woke.
Disgraceful.
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