How does the presence of a 'star actor' (e.g., casting a highly famous celebrity in a literary role) introduce what adaptation theorists call 'extratextual baggage' to a film?
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Correct answer: The star's persona and past roles merge into the character, altering the literary figure
When a famous star plays a literary character, they bring their entire cinematic history and public identity with them. The audience doesn't just see the character from the book; they see the star performing the character. This extratextual layer can create fascinating friction or harmony with the reader's original mental image, adding meanings to the adaptation that the source novel never anticipated.
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