In a long and spoiler-filled letter to his fans, Stephen King explained that he “wholeheartedly” endorsed the changes made CBS’ adaptation of Under the Dome.
The new series scored a big hit for the network, earning 13.1 million viewers for the debut episode. Here’s an excerpt from the letter, an inspiring missive for any readers concerned about adaptations of their favorite books:
James M. Cain agreed to be interviewed by a student reporter who covered culture and the arts for his college newspaper. This young man began his time with Cain by bemoaning how Hollywood had changed books such as The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity. Before he could properly get into his rant, the old man interrupted him by pointing to a shelf of books behind his desk. “The movies didn’t change them a bit, son,” he said. “They’re all right up there. Every word is the same as when I wrote them.” I feel the same way about Under the Dome. If you loved the book when you first read it, it’s still there for your perusal. But that doesn’t mean the TV series is bad, because it’s not. In fact, it’s very good.