One of the most popular movies of the moment is The Girl on the Train, a Hollywood thriller directed by Tate Taylor and based on the novel of the same name by Paula Hawkins. While it has topped the weekend box office in the United States, the film has upset some fans of the book because of significant differences between the two versions. They have particularly objected to the change of location, from England to America, and the portrayal by Emily Blunt of the main protagonist, Rachel.
While there are valid arguments about artistic integrity and the author's intentions, the bottom line is that most writers surrender control when they sell their film rights. If success is measured in financial returns, it seems Taylor was right to make the changes he did. At the end of the day, we are talking about two separate works of fiction. Many stories have been told in different ways in different mediums. And a movie version of The Girl on the Train could be set anywhere – even on the Dubai Metro.
