One of the biggest breakout movies of 2019 was the universally acclaimed Snowpiercer.
The movie was unanimously praised and became an instant hit in the post-apocalyptic fandom… which is why it’s set to get a TV show remake from TNT. The announcement has predictably caused both excitement and an uproar, with some curious to see a new version of the story while others are less enthusiastic about it. With that said, here are arguments made for both sides of that coin. These are the five reasons why we need to see a Snowpiercer TV show and five why we don’t.
NEED: Bong Joon-Ho Is Involved
Much like the recently announced Parasite miniseries on HBO, Bong Joon-Ho’s fans are understandably worried and angry about the Snowpiercer remake/reboot TV show. To them, only he could tell these stories properly and remaking them is a transparently cynical cash-grab meant to take advantage of the movies and director’s popularity.
Thankfully, Bong is helping out TNT’s show as an executive producer. How much input he’ll be given has yet to be revealed but at the very least, it’s good to know that he’s on board his movie’s expansion.
DON’T NEED: It’s Another Unnecessary American Remake
One of the biggest controversies regarding Hollywood is its penchant for remaking successful Asian movies, despite these movies already being perfect on their own. Snowpiercer is yet another victim of this trend, despite the fact that it’s possibly one of the most accessible Korean films out there thanks to its international cast and crew plus a predominant use of English dialogue.
Regardless of its actual quality and as far as purists are concerned, TNT’s series feels like a slap to Snowpiercer’s face, as if saying that this near-perfect, critically acclaimed and genre favorite Korean science fiction movie isn’t good enough until it gets an American remix.
NEED: The New Cast Looks Impressive
Snowpiercer was an impressive ensemble movie that included Hollywood A-listers like Chris Evans and Octatvia Spencer, respected veterans such as Tilda Swinton and Ed Harris, and even frequent Bong Joon-Ho collaborator Song Kang-Ho, who’s probably best known for starring in 2019’s breakout Parasite.
TNT’s TV show isn’t slacking off in the casting department either, boasting the likes of Daveed Diggs (Thomas Jefferson from Hamilton), Jennifer Connelly, Timothy V. Murphy, Steve Ogg, and even Sean Bean – although he’ll appear in the show’s second season. The TV series looks to be packed with both up-and-coming stars and beloved character actors, making it a line-up to look forward to.
DON’T NEED: The TV Series Might Be A Retread Of The Movie
While the cast has been confirmed to be a new group of people, the themes that have been teased will be all too familiar to fans of the movie. Once again, class warfare is the central conflict, with those of the tail end’s lower classes fighting their way to the front, where the elite ride out the apocalypse in decadent comfort.
The trailer all but confirms that the TV show is just an almost word-for-word repeat of what Snowpiercer already did – right down to freezing someone’s arm as an example. Only time will tell if TNT’s series will do something new with this premise or of it will just be a televised remake of the 2013 film that needlessly drags out a succinct two-hour story into two seasons’ worth of episodes.
NEED: The TV Series Could Tell A New Story
Though it’s never stated, there are actually multiple Snowpiercers circling the world. This tidbit isn’t important to the movie, but it’s integral to the original French graphic novels that inspired it. In fact, in the third book Terminus, the movie’s train was confirmed to be taking place on a third Snowpiercer and that there were ten Snowpiercers at one point.
The TV series has been confirmed to be taking place on a wholly different train with a new set of characters and problems – even if the trailer gives off familiar vibes. This seems to be the case, as the series' main characters (both who hail from different ends of the train) have a different dynamic going on between them compared to the movie's cast.
DON’T NEED: The Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved
As an old adage once said, less is more and this is very applicable to Snowpiercer. What makes the movie’s setting so nightmarish isn’t just that the new Ice Age effectively killed the Earth, but that so much of how it happened is left up to the viewers’ imaginations.
The same goes for the original comics, which also deal with their respective stories’ presents rather than showing detailed flashbacks (with the prequel being an obvious exception). Giving answers and explanations to questions that don’t necessarily need them will only water down the setting’s harrowing impact.
NEED: The World Of Snowpiercer Could Be Expanded
Outside of the cataclysm that caused everything in the first place and some survivors’ tales, Snowpiercer doesn’t reveal too much about its setting. This has let quite a lot of unanswered questions and implications about the frozen world – things that may finally be brought to the forefront in TNT’s series.
As of this writing, all audiences have to go on are the bits of information provided in the movie and the official prequel comic Extinction. The TV series could fill in the gaps and finally answer all those nagging questions that fans have been thinking about in the years since the movie’s release.
DON’T NEED: The Movie’s Open Ending Should Be Left Alone
Much like the setting, it may be better to leave the fates of Yona, Timothy and the polar bear up in the air. This isn’t just because it’s a perfect ending to the movie, but because Bong Joon-Ho intended for it to be that way.
At one point, Bong Joon-Ho planned to have Timmy talk over the ending, providing some poignant narration and whatnot. This idea was wisely scrapped, as it was decided that the ending would be a lot better and impactful if it were more open.
NEED: The TV Series Could Reveal What Happened To The Movie’s Survivors
However, we’d be lying if we said that we aren’t at the very least curious about the fate of those who survived the ending of Snowpiercer. After the train (and all the inhumanity it represented) derailed, the children Yona and Timmy are shown to be the only survivors… them and a polar bear, at least.
TNT’s series could reveal what happened to them in either a sub-plot or a simple off-hand comment. Either way, this would finally put one of the most pressing questions regarding the original movie to rest. ittedly, it’s not the most important concern we have but nonetheless, it’ll be cathartic to know their fates.
DON’T NEED: One Snowpiercer Is Enough
Part of what makes Snowpiercer so special and beloved in the science fiction community is that it’s arguably one of the most original post-apocalyptic concepts to hit cinemas in recent years. Making more of the same thing runs the risk of not only dampening the original movie’s impact, but of the whole idea itself.
Just because Snowpiercer left audiences wanting more doesn’t mean they need a Snowpiercer Cinematic Universe or the same class struggles on freezing trains but on loop. Snowpiercer is lightning in a bottle, and trying to replicate its success would only lead to diminishing returns at best.
