Controversial Decisions to Age Up Characters in Live-Action Adaptations

When turning popular stories into live-action movies or shows, changes to characters and their histories are common. A frequent and often debated alteration is making younger characters older – moving them from childhood or their teenage years into young adulthood. Studios often do this to appeal to a broader audience, avoid legal issues with child actors, or allow for more mature storylines. This article looks at some well-known examples of characters who were aged up in adaptations, and how those changes affected the final product and how it was received.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

In his books, George R.R. Martin portrays characters like the Stark children and Daenerys Targaryen as quite young – Daenerys begins her story at just thirteen years old. However, the show’s creators decided to make these characters several years older for television. This was done to make the show’s violent and sexual scenes more acceptable for viewers. Characters like Robb and Jon Stark went from being fourteen to teenagers, and Sansa and Arya were also aged up to better handle their difficult storylines. While this change allowed the show to explore complex political themes, it also lessened the impact of seeing children forced into adult roles during wartime.

‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’ (2010)

The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan center around a twelve-year-old boy discovering he’s a demigod, a key detail leading up to a major prophecy when he turns sixteen. However, the movie version started with a sixteen-year-old Percy Jackson, played by Logan Lerman, which eliminated the sense of urgency and the character’s journey of growing into his powers. Fans disliked this change because it made the Camp Half-Blood campers seem like young adults instead of kids just discovering their abilities. This also limited the possibility of the actors naturally growing into their roles over a long series of films.

‘Ender’s Game’ (2013)

In Orson Scott Card’s novel, Ender Wiggin is a six-year-old with incredible strategic skills, a fact that emphasizes how disturbingly the military uses children. The movie version starred Asa Butterfield and made Ender twelve years old, which softened the powerful image of a tiny commander with a brilliant mind. Though it would have been impractical to film battles with young children, making Ender older reduced the emotional effect of his loneliness and defenselessness. Many viewers felt his intelligence seemed less extraordinary when displayed by a teenager than a small child.

‘The Giver’ (2014)

Lois Lowry’s novel tells the story of Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy chosen to learn about the past through memories. The movie version changed the characters’ ages to sixteen and added a teenage romance, which wasn’t in the book. Many critics thought this made the story less special, turning a thoughtful exploration of childhood and innocence into a typical action movie for teens. By making Jonas older, the film focused more on a teenager fighting against the rules, rather than a child first understanding the world’s difficulties.

‘Dragonball Evolution’ (2009)

In the original Dragon Ball manga and anime, Goku begins his story as a young, innocent boy living a solitary life before starting his martial arts training. However, the live-action movie drastically changed his character, portraying him as an eighteen-year-old high schooler struggling with typical teenage problems like bullying. This was a significant departure from his original, pure-hearted personality and the adventurous spirit of his childhood. By aging him up and placing him in a familiar American high school setting, the film lost much of what made Goku so endearing, and is widely considered a poor adaptation.

‘Seventh Son’ (2014)

The movie, based on the book ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’, significantly changed the main character, Tom Ward, aging him from a twelve-year-old to a young adult played by Ben Barnes. While the book emphasized the frightening experience of a child learning to battle evil forces, the film became more of an action-packed adventure with a romantic storyline. The relationship between Tom and his mentor also shifted – it went from feeling like a father-son bond to more of a partnership, likely because the actors were closer in age. This change disappointed many book fans who felt it lost the original story’s focus on the protagonist’s youthful vulnerability.

‘Death Note’ (2017)

The original Japanese manga centers around Light Yagami, a brilliant high schooler. Netflix’s version relocated the story to Seattle and changed Light into Light Turner, an older, more rebellious teenager. Though not much older in years, Light Turner was portrayed as more mature and self-sufficient, almost like a college student. This change allowed the adaptation to include elements like a prom and a more romantic relationship with Mia. However, many fans felt this American version lost the original character’s sharp, calculating intelligence and self-control.

‘Riverdale’ (2017–2023)

Archie Comics features characters who are always teenagers, but the TV show used actors in their twenties to play them. This created a disconnect, as the show explored mature themes like gangs, murder, and affairs that didn’t fit with the characters’ supposed high school ages. The show also sexualized the characters, notably transforming the traditionally innocent Archie into a muscular, crime-fighting figure. While this new direction became the show’s defining characteristic, it significantly strayed from the lighthearted nature of the original comics.

‘Fate: The Winx Saga’ (2021–2022)

The original ‘Winx Club’ was a bright and cheerful cartoon about fairies in magic school, aimed at younger viewers and focused on the power of friendship. The new Netflix live-action series reimagined the show for a teen and young adult audience, similar to fans of shows like ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ with a more mature and serious tone. This new version tackled heavier topics like drugs and relationships, which surprised many who remembered the original’s innocence. To appeal to this older audience, the series also removed some of the more childlike elements from the cartoon.

‘Titans’ (2018–2023)

While the ‘Teen Titans’ usually centers on the team as teenagers, the live-action series went for a more mature and serious tone with an older group of heroes. Instead of a young leader, Dick Grayson was portrayed as a world-weary adult trying to establish his own identity after being Batman’s sidekick. Although Raven remained relatively young, this created an unusual age difference within the team and changed how they interacted. The show’s adult themes and violence also necessitated older characters, which moved it away from the audience of the original comics and cartoon.

‘Shadowhunters’ (2016–2019)

The TV adaptation of ‘The Mortal Instruments’ made some changes to the original novels. In the books, Clary Fray is fifteen years old when she discovers a hidden world, but the show aged her and the other characters to around eighteen. This allowed the series to avoid restrictions related to young actors and explore more mature romantic storylines that were hinted at in the books. The show also shifted the setting from high school to an art academy and police stations, giving the characters more freedom and independence – something not typically seen in fifteen-year-olds. Though the main plot stayed true to the source material, the characters behaved with a level of independence that reflected their older age.

‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian’ (2008)

In C.S. Lewis’s book, Prince Caspian is around thirteen years old, making him a similar age to the Pevensie children. However, the movie cast Ben Barnes, who was much older, portraying Caspian as a young adult and adding a romantic relationship with Susan. This change shifted the story’s conflict – instead of a struggle between a young boy and his power-hungry uncle, it became a battle between two adults. The romantic subplot was created specifically for the film to take advantage of the actor’s age.

‘Eragon’ (2006)

The movie version of Christopher Paolini’s Eragon made some changes to the story. The actor chosen to play Eragon, Edward Speleers, looked older than the fifteen-year-old character described in the book. The film also showed Eragon quickly becoming skilled with swords and magic, unlike the gradual learning process in the novel. While this made the movie easier to follow, it removed the important part of the story where Eragon grows up and deals with the huge responsibility placed on him. Because his skills developed so quickly, his victories didn’t feel as meaningful or deserved as they did in the book.

‘Divergent’ (2014)

In the book, Tris Prior is sixteen years old when she selects her faction, representing the significant decisions young people face. However, the movie adaptation, starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James, presented the characters as older, appearing to be in their twenties rather than teenagers. Specifically, the character of Four was aged up to twenty-four, which created a larger age difference between him and the new initiates. While this made the film look more mature and action-packed, it lessened the story’s focus on teenagers challenging the rules of their society.

‘The Maze Runner’ (2014)

In James Dashner’s novel, the Glade is populated by boys between twelve and seventeen, highlighting the terrifying situation of children caught in a dangerous experiment. However, the movie cast actors who were mostly in their early twenties, making the group appear more like young adults than lost children. This change lessened the impact of the story’s disturbing premise – it’s more frightening to watch children battle robotic creatures than to see adults do the same. Although the film was a success, it altered the overall mood and feel of the Glade.

‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)

The TV show The Vampire Diaries differed from the books in how it portrayed its high school characters. While the story was set in high school, the actors were much older, giving the show a more adult vibe right from the start. They had more freedom and behaved in ways that didn’t quite match being teenagers – things like drinking and a lack of parental guidance. This is a common pattern on The CW, but it meant the show focused more on mature relationships and less on typical high school experiences found in the original books.

‘Pretty Little Liars’ (2010–2017)

The book series featured the main characters as middle and high school students, but the TV show cast actresses in their twenties. This, along with more sophisticated fashion and storylines, made it hard for viewers to see them as typical teenagers concerned with things like schoolwork. The show’s creators chose to present the characters as older, which allowed them to explore more mature and dramatic themes, including relationships with teachers and even murder. A defining characteristic of the show became that the main characters, known as the “Liars,” seemed and behaved like adults, even though they were supposed to be in their second year of high school.

‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021–Present)

The characters known as the “Emond’s Field Five” in Robert Jordan’s novels are teenagers or in their early twenties – young adults still relatively new to the world. The Amazon series aged them up a bit, making them around twenty years old, to move romantic storylines forward more quickly and create a more mature, intense atmosphere. For example, the series immediately establishes a sexual relationship between Egwene and Rand, which doesn’t happen in the books’ more innocent beginning. This change was likely made to attract fans of shows like ‘Game of Thrones’ instead of targeting a younger, Young Adult audience.

‘Interview with the Vampire’ (2022–Present)

In Anne Rice’s novel, Claudia is a child of five, forever stuck in a young body while her mind continues to grow. The AMC television series aged her up to fourteen, with Bailey Bass in the role, to sidestep the practical and moral difficulties of depicting a toddler involved in mature and violent situations. This change significantly impacted Claudia’s story; a teenage vampire faces different struggles than a toddler who never ages. The show’s creators used this new age to introduce themes of race and the difficulties of being a teenager, which weren’t part of the original character’s journey.

‘Nancy Drew’ (2019–2023)

The original Nancy Drew stories feature a smart teenage detective, typically between sixteen and eighteen years old, who solves mysteries with the help of her friends. The CW television series reimagined Nancy as a nineteen-year-old taking a year off before starting college, and grappling with the loss of her mother. This change allowed the show to explore darker themes and mature content – like supernatural horror and romantic relationships – that wouldn’t fit with the classic stories. As a result, the character evolved from a pure and innocent role model into a more complex, modern young woman dealing with difficult life questions.

‘Bel-Air’ (2022–Present)

This isn’t a direct adaptation of the original ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ but a new take on the story. It keeps the basic idea of the show but presents it with a much more serious and dramatic feel. Will’s character, though still a teenager, acts older and more troubled, getting into legal issues that are far more intense than anything seen in the original. The other characters, like Carlton, also deal with difficult issues like drug use and anxiety, making them feel more complex and realistic than typical teen characters. Overall, the show portrays these characters as young adults dealing with serious consequences, rather than simply as sitcom teens.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)

In the anime, Faye Valentine appears to be twenty-three years old (though she’s actually much older due to being frozen in cryosleep). However, the live-action series portrayed her as more realistic, cynical, and mature, with Daniella Pineda playing the role. While the original anime characters were youthful and energetic despite their difficult pasts, the live-action version presented them as world-weary. This change in age and overall tone led to criticism that the show lost the original’s effortless charm and vibrancy. The adaptation aimed for a more realistic feel, but ended up making the characters feel older and less playful.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ (2010)

Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ continues the story from Lewis Carroll’s books, but with a now nineteen-year-old Alice. This change allowed the film to follow a typical fantasy adventure—where a special person is destined for greatness—instead of feeling like a random, dreamlike experience. In the movie, Alice is trying to avoid an unwanted marriage, giving her a grown-up reason to return to Underland. Some fans of the original books didn’t like this, feeling it forced a predictable hero’s journey onto a story that was always meant to be illogical and without a clear goal.

‘Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’ (2017)

The comic book character Valérian is a strong, experienced time traveler. When the comic was adapted into a film, the actor Dane DeHaan, who appeared much younger than the character in the books, was cast in the role. The movie’s script, however, presented him as a hardened veteran. This created a strange contrast – the actor looked like a kid trying to play the part of a seasoned professional. This mismatch between his youthful appearance and the character’s supposed long history left audiences confused and damaged the film’s believability.

‘Wanted’ (2008)

The main character, Wesley Gibson, was originally depicted in the comic book as a young, rebellious outcast resembling Eminem. However, the movie cast James McAvoy, who brought a more mature and world-weary quality to the role. The film toned down the comic’s edgy, youthful cynicism, opting instead for a more traditional hero’s journey. Though Wesley’s age wasn’t significantly changed, the shift from a punk-like anti-hero to a disillusioned office worker broadened the film’s appeal. The movie emphasized professional hitman work, moving away from the chaotic supervillain storylines of the original comic.

‘I Am Number Four’ (2011)

The movie, based on a young adult novel, tells the story of alien refugees disguised as high school students. However, the actors chosen – Alex Pettyfer and Teresa Palmer – looked older than teenagers, which made it hard to believe they were actually in high school. Their mature appearances felt out of place and made their attempts to fit in seem unnatural. The film prioritized action and romance, seemingly relying on the actors’ looks to attract a wider audience.

‘The 5th Wave’ (2016)

I loved the book ‘The 5th Wave,’ and I was really excited when the movie came out! The main character, Cassie, is only sixteen, and the story is all about her trying to protect her little brother during an alien invasion. I thought Chloë Grace Moretz was perfect as Cassie, age-wise. But honestly, the movie felt…different. The male leads seemed much older, and the whole thing felt like they were trying to make it appeal to fans of ‘The Hunger Games.’ They smoothed out all the rough edges and turned it into more of a romantic action movie, which made the characters feel like these tough heroes instead of scared kids just trying to survive. It kind of lost the desperate, terrifying feeling of the book because they didn’t really show how traumatic everything was for these young characters, and it just didn’t feel as connected to the source material.

‘Beautiful Creatures’ (2013)

The story centers on Ethan and Lena, two high school students facing a magical curse that comes to life when Lena turns sixteen. However, the movie cast actors who looked older than high schoolers, shifting the story’s feel from a typical teen drama to something more suited for adults. This made Lena’s sixteenth birthday seem less significant, and the film didn’t quite capture the unique challenges of being a sophomore in a small town.

‘The Host’ (2013)

Stephenie Meyer’s sci-fi novel centers around Wanderer, an alien spirit who takes over the body of a young woman named Melanie. While the movie stayed true to the characters’ ages, the actors, Saoirse Ronan and Max Irons, appeared older than described in the book. The story’s deep internal thoughts were simplified into a typical teenage love triangle, and the actors’ more mature appearances were used to emphasize the romantic connection. Ultimately, the film prioritized the physical aspects of the relationships and didn’t fully explore the book’s more thoughtful and complex themes.

‘Foundation’ (2021–Present)

Isaac Asimov’s stories usually take place over long periods of time and center on older, thoughtful characters who debate the science of predicting the future. The Apple TV+ series updated these stories by changing the character Gaal Dornick from a male mathematician to a young woman and giving the series a more youthful, action-packed look. They also reimagined Salvor Hardin as a young, physically active hero named “Warden,” emphasizing action over political strategy. These changes aimed to create a stronger emotional connection with viewers, trading the books’ intellectual style for a more energetic and exciting feel.

‘Halo’ (2022–2024)

Kwan Ha was a new character introduced in the TV series to show a more personal side to the story, contrasting with the super-soldier Master Chief. Though she wasn’t based on a character from the games, her presence led to Master Chief unexpectedly becoming a protector, forcing him to show more emotion and maturity than he typically does. The show aimed to deepen the emotional impact of the story, transforming the traditionally stoic hero into a character grappling with fatherly feelings for a surrogate daughter. This change proved divisive among fans of the games, who preferred a straightforward war narrative over a focus on family dynamics.

Tell us which character age change you found most jarring in the comments!

2026-01-27 04:19