The Personal History of David Copperfield – What Is New With Classic Revivals

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Reimagining classic works of entertainment is a tricky venture that more often than not ends in mixed impressions. But Armando Iannucci’s upcoming movie, The Personal History of David Copperfield, another adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens novel, redefines the boundaries of cinematic license in the most exciting ways. The Guardian agrees that the production, due for release on January 24, 2020, is a thrilling combination of the original story with a modern spirit, pace and sense of humour. Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie and Ben Whishaw lead the star-studded cast. The fact that it will be the second of three classic movie adaptations to be released within three months, however, is the most interesting part.

Popularity of Revivals

It is no secret that producers enjoy revisiting old favourites. Books, movies, video games and even music often draw from timeless trends, either as full reimaginings or amusing Easter Eggs. A simple example are slots among Kitty Bingo games – CLUEDO Spinning Detectives or Da Vinci Diamonds – using popular themes to add nostalgia and familiar details to their slot game design. This alone boosts the public’s interest in the titles. A similar entertaining impression is made by random but funny movie-based Easter Eggs in video games, such as finding a reference to Lotso the bear from Toy Story 3 in Fallout 76 or discovering the Delorean from Back to the Future in Hunt: Showdown. A beloved classic jumps to mind in the very different context of a video game, causing a renewed appreciation for the older productions, as well as the modern developers’ ingenuity.

More Classic Revivals

Movie reboots are common today, but directors managing to impress audiences with their spins of old stories typical confined by convention is a treat. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, for example, is set for a grand Box Office debut on December 26. Saoirse Ronan stars as Jo March alongside Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and other prestigious names of the industry. Its Rotten Tomatoes rating is already at 98% in anticipation of a smart and refreshing retelling of the March family’s tale of self-discovery. Hopefully, this movie will be able to deliver the deep and delicate messages the novel’s author, Louisa May Alcott, always intended.

And then there is Emma, February’s classic that could be placed somewhere in between the other two movies in terms of direction. A beautiful Georgian setting. Sharp pace and dialogue. Clever cinematic satire of social class at that time. Focus Features released the movie’s first trailer and fans are buzzing with excitement. This cast has Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role, supported by the likes of Bill Nighy, Miranda Hart and Josh O’Connor. Once again, a classic narrative about past cultures is represented through a humorously engaging modern lens.

Bringing back old productions should not feel boring or repetitive, for moviegoers or producers. After years of trial and error in several aspects of the entertainment industry, directors have finally stepped up to get the job done right. These timeless stories always have something new to teach.