There’s growing concern regarding the fate of original stories and their place in Hollywood. Reboots, remakes and sequels continue to dominate while new and original works under-perform. Which begs the question: what happens if every project descends from legacy IPs, endlessly retooled to target different audiences?
The Safe Bet Eventually Backfires
Studios love a sure thing. And in today’s risk-averse climate, nothing feels safer than an existing franchise with a built-in fanbase and a proven track record.
But if every greenlit project hinges on familiarity, everything will feel recycled. The same story with the same characters, plotlines, villains, conflict, etc. will start to feel stale no matter how many times writers deviate from the source material.
Eventually, audiences will grow tired and tune out. Franchise fatigue is real and even die-hard fans will only tolerate so many multiversal crossovers until the thrill wears off.
Lack of Representation
When originality gets pushed to the sidelines, so does representation. Original stories are where new voices break through. Up and coming directors, writers and actors usually get their big break in films or TV shows rooted in a unique idea.
A lot of new projects are often made by creators from marginalized communities. Grey’s Anatomy, Pose, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Get Out, Brokeback Mountain are just some examples of original concepts that offer new perspectives and experiences. A lack of original content would reduce the amount of representation on screen and alienate audiences that value diversity.
Creative Stagnation
A world of endless franchises can be limiting for storytellers. There’s only so much artistic freedom when you’re expected to stay true to the source material and preserve canon. Over time, that creative squeeze leads to burnout. The industry starts to lose its most innovative minds as they’re forced to think within the box.
Does Originality Still Stand a Chance?
Thankfully, there’s still hope for original content.
Yes, while ideas like Elio haven’t been doing well at the box office, the reasons go deeper than just “audiences don’t want originality.” Timing, competition, and weak marketing play a big role in how well a project does. Look at Pixar’s Elemental: a slow burn that gained momentum through word of mouth. It eventually grossed nearly half a billion dollars and became Disney+’s biggest streaming debut of 2023.
Original hits like KPop Demon Hunters or The White Lotus show viewers are still hungry for bold, weird, character-driven storytelling. They’re reminders that surprise can still be a selling point.
The entertainment industry needs balance. Franchises may draw the crowds, but original stories keep the art alive. Because there’s nothing quite like stepping into a world we’ve never seen before.
