Warner Bros.’ plans to remake “Lord of the Flies” — but with young girls stranded on a remote island instead of boys — has gotten a lot of people scratching their heads.
Fans of William Golding’s 1954 novel and the subsequent 1963 film by Peter Brook were quick to point out on social media that re-casting with all females just doesn’t make sense considering the dystopian storyline.
“All-female ‘Lord of the Flies remake’ SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE MISSED THE F——– POINT OF LORD OF THE FLIES,” one user tweeted.
Another said that it “is a great way to show you didn’t f—– understand Lord of the Flies.”
“Uhm lord of the flies is about the replication of systemic masculine toxicity,” another user wrote. “Every 9th grader knows this.”
“The female-led Lord of the Flies wouldn’t ever happen because women would just branch off into their own respective groups peacefully,” said one user, while another added, “Lord of the Flies starring only girls: ‘Girls get marooned on an island. Band together to find food, shelter, rescue. Nobody dies. The end.’”
And some were quick to crack jokes, comparing an all-female “Lord of the Flies” to movies and TV shows that already exist.
“All female Lord of the Flies? I thought they made that already and it was called Mean Girls,” one person said.
Another added: “We already have an all-female ‘Lord of the Flies.’ It’s called ‘The View.’ And it sucks.”
Lastly, many people also commented about the fact that it will be an all-female reboot, but it will be written by men.
However, some people came to the defense of the new remake, with one saying the film could have “a lot of potential” and that the book wasn’t about “toxic masculinity” but rather about the downfall of a society.
On Wednesday, Warner Bros. announced the studio would go into development with “Lord of the Flies,” with Scott McGehee and David Siegel being the masterminds behind the reinvention. The 1954 novel focused on a group of British school boys stranded on an uninhabited island and their disastrous attempt of governing themselves. Two films were made — one in 1963, and one in 1990.
Warner Bros. had no comment.
See reactions to the announcement below.
I think an all-girls version of Lord of the Flies could have a lot of potential…but written by two white dudes? Ew. No thank you.
— Stevie Mat (@stevie_mat) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/Shogus_00/status/903311097217785860
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/903067493966766081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ffilm%2F2017%2Faug%2F31%2Flord-of-the-flies-remake-to-star-all-girl-cast
https://twitter.com/soalexgoes/status/903033234857967616
Dudes writing a female version of LORD OF THE FLIES is like a gift to the problematic think piece gods…
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) August 30, 2017
An all female Lord of the Flies? Sigh. There are plenty of good original women's stories to tell. Why do we have to remake classic lit?
— Jamie Yates (@JYates_doula) August 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/903067493966766081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ffilm%2F2017%2Faug%2F31%2Flord-of-the-flies-remake-to-star-all-girl-cast
https://twitter.com/froynextdoor/status/903054291065233408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ffilm%2F2017%2Faug%2F31%2Flord-of-the-flies-remake-to-star-all-girl-cast
"all-female Lord of the Flies remake" SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE MISSED THE FUUUUUCKIN POINT OF LORD OF THE FLIES
— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/_BetterWithAge/status/903051260030570496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fjuliareinstein%2Fall-female-lord-of-the-flies
https://twitter.com/personalmaps/status/903016993422544899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fjuliareinstein%2Fall-female-lord-of-the-flies
https://twitter.com/StephenSeanFord/status/903157208690642944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fjuliareinstein%2Fall-female-lord-of-the-flies
LORD OF THE FLIES: written by a man about masculinity. An all-female LORD OF THE FLIES, also written by men, seems just a little defensive.
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) August 31, 2017
The all-female Lord of the Flies is about a group of girls stranded on an island fighting over a single dress with pockets.
— Nina Bargiel, probably (@slackmistress) August 31, 2017
The female-led Lord of the Flies wouldn't ever happen because women would just branch off into their own respective groups peacefully
— it was rachatha all along (@RachelLeishman) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/LetsGoHeather/status/903203936877850624
the all-girl remake of lord of the flies wont work bc realistically the girls would set aside their differences & work to get off the island
— uncle baby (@vickykrieps) August 31, 2017
All female Lord of the Flies? I thought they made that already and it was called Mean Girls. #topical pic.twitter.com/7dfaeui8EO
— Bit Raptor (@bit_raptor) August 31, 2017
new all female lord of the flies is just a reboot of mean girls with spears
— Friedrice Nietzsche (@tinynietzsche) August 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/savannxhb/status/903273437732507648
All-female Lord of the Flies is a great way to show you didn't fucking understand Lord of the Flies.
— Grand Moff Snarkin, The Funkular Fury, Bearified? (@N7IRL) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/heather_job/status/903258968864251904
We already have an all-female "Lord of the Flies." It's called "The View." And it sucks.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/STORMER1012/status/903031247177482240
https://twitter.com/ubeempress/status/903029064226693121