Tribeca TV Festival 2019: LOOKING FOR ALASKA World Premiere

Young Adult adaptations are far from new in the Hollywood industry with the wealth of material far from running dry. While some have found their way to the big screen in rapid-fire succession (Twilight, Hunger Games, Divergent), others have been waiting in the wings for their chance to shine. This year, Hulu looks to tap into this rich goldmine, bringing to life the John Green classic Looking For Alaska.

A film that has been in development for quite some time, has finally found its cinematic fruition in the miniseries medium with the popular streaming service. At this year’s Tribeca TV Festival (a fast-growing hub for some of the biggest seasons’ releases), Looking For Alaska had its premiere to a packed crowd – the energy of anticipation to see a much-loved book brought to life all but filling the theater.

Reading Not Required

As soon as I heard the adaptation would be having its World Premiere at the 2019 Tribeca TV Festival, I had to be there. The Fault in Our Stars was a treasured book and adaptation of mine, an affection I share with many, and I could not wait to see another John Green adaptation brought to life. The biggest difference from myself and the crowd — I had never read the book.

A book that has been on my wishlist for years, Looking For Alaska was the novel everyone had told me to read, though it narrowly missed my “next up list” time and time again. Yet, the premiere was so impactful and moving, I walked out of my screening to a local Barnes and Noble around the corner to finally obtain my own copy, all writing pushed aside, as I needed to know what would happen next.

From the episodes opening moments, I was so deeply invested in the series. My lack of understanding of the “before” and the dates counting down to the “after” did not deter my intrigue or my curiosity. Rather, they were both elevated as I was further engaged with the story and its characters. If you are a viewer that has never read the book as was my case, rest assured that this series is welcoming to newcomers. It understands that there is a whole new generation of readers since its release to engage with.

An Adaptation with Passion and Grace

On the flip side, for those who have fallen in love with the words on the page over and over again, they will find that this is an adaptation worthy of their time and attention. There is great care to detail, both in the dialogue of the film, the setting, and the choices of the actors, bringing your beloved characters to life. There is also a passion and an appreciation that clearly resonates through each scene — from start to finish — and this is just the first episode.

Without wanting to spoil anything for newcomers or devotees, the series kicks off with a tense and confusing setting. One that is over as quickly as it began, jumping into the tranquility and dull atmosphere that is Pudge’s (Charlie Plummer) life before departing for boarding school.

Ready to find his “Great Perhaps,” the pace and expansion of the text from this point on will be pleasing to all who have fallen in love with Pudge – as his friends kindly refer to him. When Takumi (Jay Lee), the Colonel (Roman Armstrong) and Alaska (Kristine) each enter the picture, their depth and perspectives are greatly expanded upon, lending viewers to a deeper understanding of the characters they have fallen in love with already.

Much of the book is internally based: the thoughts of Pudge revealed to readers. Here, these thoughts needed to be transferred to the screen through dialogue and at times scenes. A challenge that could have sunk the adaptation proved to be a strength, giving new material for devotees to enjoy and further creating an endearing experience for both the old and the new.

During the panel that followed after with John Green, the cast, and executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, they joked with one another about how scripts would be sent to Green, who would read and return them with notes, commenting on lines of dialogue he loved and others he was not a fan of. Many times, the ones he was questioning were from his own text!

The success in the premiere bodes well for the seven remaining episodes. Having read the book after the initial screening, there is an energy and a vibe that matches the text, forecasting more successful episodes to follow and a satisfying adaptation of another John Green classic. October 18th has never seemed so far away.

Conclusion: Looking For Alaska

Whether you have read the book or not, there is an instant connectivity to the story and its characters, the depth of the adaptation proves capable of reaching viewers whether they know the story or not. As one of the strongest premieres I have seen in some time, it recaptures the passion and appreciation of a text that has enthralled audiences for years. If you are looking for a new series to immerse yourself in and binge over and over again, then look no further. Looking For Alaska has all you need.

Are you excited for Looking For Alaska? What have been your favorite John Green adaptations thus far? Let us know in the comments below! 

Looking for Alaska premieres on Hulu on October 18, 2019.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rWNlrgNNVm4