May 27th 2024.
Netflix has received an urgent message from Irish author Marian Keyes, pleading with them not to ruin the upcoming adaptation of her best-selling novel, Grown Ups. The 60-year-old author watched in amazement as her 2020 novel about the chaotic Casey family quickly became a fan-favorite, selling thousands of copies and even earning her the prestigious British Book Award for Author of the Year in 2022.
With the novel's popularity catching the attention of Netflix, they have now commissioned a TV adaptation from the team behind the highly acclaimed spy series, Slow Horses. However, amidst the excitement, Marian has expressed some concern. She admitted to being less than impressed with some of the Irish accents she has heard in TV and film over the years.
"It would be wonderful if they could use actors who can do authentic Irish accents," she said. "Some of the accents I've heard...I weep! It's painful to listen to." The Independent also reported that during her comments at the Hay Festival, Marian expressed her desire to be involved in the show as much as Netflix will allow.
Marian wants to make sure that the TV adaptation stays true to her novel, and she even hopes for a cameo appearance for both herself and her mother. "We both enjoy bad health," she jokes. "So a scene at the chemist would be the most realistic place for us."
Sadly, dodgy Irish accents in TV and film have become all too common in recent years. Even A-list stars have come under fire for their attempts at the Irish accent. In 2020, the film Wild Mountain Thyme, starring Emily Blunt, Christopher Walken, and John Hamm, received a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 25%, with many viewers pointing out the poor accents as a major flaw in the film.
The Rotten Tomatoes consensus called the film a "wild misfire" due to its "fatally undermined dodgy accents." Similarly, the fantasy romantic comedy Irish Wish, released in 2024 and starring Lindsay Lohan, also faced intense backlash for its characters' bad and inaccurate accents.
In 2007, Scottish actor Gerard Butler received heavy criticism for his performance as an Irish character in the film PS I Love You. He even had to apologize to the people of Ireland during an interview, saying, "I thought the film was so beautiful and respectful towards Ireland and the Irish people, but I would like to apologize to the nation of Ireland for my poor accent."
Despite these past mishaps, Marian is hopeful that Grown Ups will be a success on Netflix. She trusts that the streaming service will take her concerns into consideration and deliver an authentic and faithful adaptation of her novel. Fans of the book can look forward to seeing it come to life on the small screen soon. And as always, if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'd love to hear from you!
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