Hollywood is introducing classic lit to a new generation. From Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey to Netflix’s new East of Eden series and the Sense and Sensibility remake (in theaters Friday!), classic lit novels are becoming blockbusters and cultural moments for Gen Z viewers. (Just like we said they would!) This comes at a unique time, too: between the “Gen Z literacy crisis” debate, performative reading, and Alix Earle saying she “never” reads books, it can seem like literature is losing its place in pop culture. But the popularity of these adaptations suggests audiences are still interested in these stories, even if they discover them on screen first. After all, interest is translating into book sales. Ever since Netflix announced their East of Eden series, Penguin Classics has reportedly seen the novel’s sales across all formats jump nearly 200%. The book also topped Amazon’s bestseller list following the show’s release. (NBC News)
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