5 Way Fatal Attraction TV Series is Different From 1987 Movie

The erotic genre has recently experienced a surge in popularity, prompting creators to seek out compelling source material that delivers a passionate story with a twist. This is certainly the case with the 1987 film Fatal Attraction, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.

The film tells the story of a man who engages in a brief extramarital affair, only to face dire consequences when his mistress refuses to let him go. It has become the perfect source material for a new Paramount+ series of the same name, which has already aired its first three episodes.

Although the story of the new series parallels the highly acclaimed film and contains numerous references to it, there are some significant differences between the two.

Timeline

First and foremost, the TV story of a lover-turned-maniacal stalker occurs in a different time period than the big screen version. While the movie is set in the 1980s, the show features two timelines - the present day and the early 2000s.

In the present, we see an older Dan Gallagher (Joshua Jackson) who has been in prison for 15 years for the murder of his former lover, Alex Forrest (Lizzy Caplan). In the past, we witness the story of a love affair gone awry.

Main Characters

Though the show's main characters are the same as in the movie, there are some differences. As in the movie, Jackson's Dan has a wife and daughter and works as a lawyer. However, he tries but fails to become a judge in the show.

Caplan's Alex has a different occupation than her movie counterpart. She meets Dan because she's recently been hired as a member of the Victim Services Department, and they now work together. In the movie, they also meet for work, but Alex is an editor for a publishing company.

Location

The setting of the two projects also differs. While the movie is set in New York, the show's events take place in Los Angeles.

Perspective

Whereas the movie was filmed from Dan's point of view, the series also offers Alex's perspective. In episode 3, viewers see her go about her daily activities while gradually becoming obsessed with Dan.

Ending

The ending is where the movie and the show seem to diverge the most. The film ends with Dan's wife killing Alex in self-defence, followed by the couple giving statements to the police. The show has already deviated from that. Viewers learn that Dan spent years in prison for murdering Alex, but he claims to be innocent. The identity of Alex's true killer in the Paramount+ show will be revealed in the remaining five episodes.

Fatal Attraction Episode 4 will be released on Paramount+ on 7 May 2023.