Leave the World Behind makes a significant change to Rumaan Alam's source novel.
In the new psychological thriller, which gives Julia Roberts her very first Netflix role, the characters of George and Ruth Scott (played by Mahershala Ali and Myha'la Herrold) have been switched from an older couple to a father and daughter duo.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy before the movie's debut later this week, Herrold praised this change from the book.
Related: First trailer for Julia Roberts' Netflix movie Leave the World Behind
"I think it brought the generational conflict between the characters," she explained.
"But also when [writer-director Sam Esmail] said, 'I've decided to change it to a daughter because it was really important to have the perspective of this middle-age group in the context of the global event', which I thought was brilliant.
What to Read Next
"I feel like Gen Z or young millennials can be some of the most opinionated when it comes to world issues, environmental issues, global issues, political issues, and they also seem to be the loudest and most emphatic. I thought that was a genius choice. It also [gave] some razzle-dazzle to the conflict between Amanda (Roberts) and Ruth."
Related: Denzel Washington replaced by Marvel star in new Netflix movie
The story of Leave the World Behind sees one family's Long Island holiday interrupted by two strangers reporting of a blackout.
Also starring Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) and Kevin Bacon (The Toxic Avenger), each character must decide on the best method to survive this crisis, while grappling with their place in a world on the brink.
"This film feels like a more satisfying version of the not-dissimilarly apocalyptic, but ultimately preposterous Knock at the Cabin from earlier this year," read Variety's review.
Leave the World Behind is out now in select cinemas and comes to Netflix this Friday (December 8).
Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
