Convertible Content

Rampage | Created in 1986 by Bally Midway, this fan-favorite allowed players to wreak havoc on a cityscape as one of three colossal monsters. George, an ape, Ralph, a wolf, and Lizzie, a lizard (obvs). The beloved game was brought to the big screen with one of Hollywood’s biggest names, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, in 2018. Though the game has been licensed and recreated on many platforms, the Warner Bros movie remains the only legal conversion of the original medium. | Co-hosts Jacob Price & Aaron Mateer.

Lord of the Rings | Published in 1954 and 1955 the Lord of the Rings series is one of the most beloved and most converted book series of all time. In 2003, the BBC launched The Big Read to find the most-loved novel of all time. Unsurprisingly, the Lord of the Rings was number 1 on that esteemed list. From famous radio versions to animated series to video games to an award-winning blockbuster movie franchise, the Lord of the Rings has been imagined every which way possible.

Scott Pilgrim | The black-and-white graphic novel series began in 2004 and ended in 2010. The story of Scott Pilgrim is also the subject of a 2010 movie. The movie was actually produced before the series finished, which is why the endings are different. The series was republished in color from 2012 to 2014.

Batman | Created in 1939 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger; there are few comic book figures as iconic as the Bat-Man. The subject of dozens of movie and film adaptations, the character has brought in more than $6 billion at the box office. Even more impressively, the Batman franchise has pulled in more than $20 billion in merchandise sales including toys, apparel, and games.

Titanic | As one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history, the sinking of RMS Titanic lingers in the cultural memory even 112 years later. More than 1,500 lives were lost after the record-breaking ship struck an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. Viewed by some as a cautionary tale, the Titanic disaster has influenced maritime regulations for decades later. The subject of countless documentaries, one massive movie, and most recently an immersive VR experience, the story of the Titanic has been converted many times.

The Most Dangerous Game | Published in 1924 as a short story by Richard Connell, it is widely regarded as one of the most popular short stories ever written. It was converted to the screen in a 1932 movie, and has been converted to the screen in many different versions since. It was also the basis for a 1943 critically acclaimed radio series. The premise of the short story also lends itself to some spiritual derivations - the Hunger Games and Fortnite being the most prominent. With the story entering the public domain in 2020, new streaming service Quibi wasted no time in converting the short story to their specialized phone streaming format.

Phantom of the Opera | Before it was a movie with Gerard Butler and a stage musical with anthems by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and even before it was a novel by Gaston Leroux, the story behind the Phantom of the Opera stems from rumored occurrences in Paris in the late 1800s. Fun fact: The underground lake exists. On the stage, Phantom has taken billions of dollars at the box office and boasts the second-longest residency on London’s West End (34 years) - second only to Les Miserables.

The Beatles | Arguably the world’s most famous boy band, these four young lads from Liverpool achieved world domination with enviable ease in the 1960s. For a decade they captured the cultural spotlight the world over. In the five decades since they disbanded, their music has continued to be very popular with many lists and accolades placing them at the summit. The catchy tunes made famous by John, Paul, George, and Ringo have been adapted to both stage and screen.

Pride and Prejudice | First published in 1813, the story’s working title was the aptly chosen ‘First Impressions’. To the unfamiliar, Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates the societal and maternal pressure to marry a wealthy gentleman, along with her four sisters Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. The story has been adapted to various media including a play, a Broadway musical, a musical concept album, multiple TV versions, and a few movie versions.

LEGO | Those little bricks of heaven or hell - depending on where you’re standing - have brought joy to millions of aficionados both old and young the world over. In recent years the interlocking brick system has been converted to the big screen four times, and to the small screen dozens of times through various series, shorts, and video games.

From toys to video games, plays to TV, books to film and back again, we share perspectives on content converted across media.

Does art need to exist in its original form to be enjoyed? We say absolutely NOT! Though it is hard not to watch an adapted movie without comparing to the original book, the converted content can also be assessed for merit in the new medium. Adaptation from one medium to another will always provoke discourse. This podcast opens the discussion to various, unaddressed aspects of adapting content.