Where the Crawdads Sing: The Film Adaptation and the Controversy

Delia Owens' book Where the Crawdads Sing, which has sold over 10 million copies since its release in 2018, has officially been adapted into a film that will release in theaters on July 15, 2022.

Featuring impeccable talent such as Daisy Edgar-Jones as the lead Kya, Where the Crawdads Sing will reflect the striking homage to nature, love, and murder that readers find irresistible in Owens’ novel. A suspicious appeal with Kya’s untamed upbringing in the marshlands of North Carolina, places her at the center of a murder case. In between all of this, you can expect romance and the captivating abilities of the “marsh girl” who was abandoned by her family to raise herself into adulthood.

Daisy Edgar-Jones is stepping into the spotlight in 2022 after her portrayal of Marianne in the hit series based on Sally Rooney’s book Normal People. Her most recent film, Fresh, starring Sebastian Stan and herself as the main characters, proved her strong ability to act expressively and intensely. At the 2021 Television BAFTAs, Jones’ Normal People co-star, Paul Mescal– who portrays Connell Waldren– dedicated his award to Daisy. This shows not only the engrossing hold she has on audiences, but co-stars as well.

"I want to dedicate this to Daisy, who is the best scene partner and one of the best people I know," he said.

Here is a look at Jones’ feature in Where the Crawdads Sing:

Aside from Daisy Edgar-Jones, you can expect to see large roles played by Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, David Strathairn, Ahna O’Reilly, Eric Ladin, Sterling Macer Jr., Michael Hyatt, and more.

The music for this feature film is destined to reflect the emotional weight that this story holds but the question remains on who contribute to Where the Crawdads Sing soundtrack. At this time, one artist that is confirmed to be contributing to this film is none other than Taylor Swift. An unreleased single titled “Carolina” will hopefully add to this story's motion picture potential.

In September of 2018, Reese Witherspoon chose Where the Crawdads Sing for Reese’s Book Club. Almost four years later, she has purchased the rights to the movie. She has taken on the role of producer for the adaptation and alongside her will be another Where the Crawdads Sing admirer, Olivia Newman, as the director. Readers are eager for their adaptation to be as notable as the novel was.

The Controversy

In 1974, Mr. and Mrs. Owens spent a period of time studying wildlife in Africa. Eventually, they began a foundation that was recognized for contributing to health care, education, and more. Mr. Owens had an interest in taking part of an anti-poaching movement and went on to open a camp named “Marula-Puku” referred to as “the command center for anti-poaching operations”. An incident arose in which a “suspected poacher was apparently shot and killed,” writes Alexandra Alter in an article for the New York Times. After this incident, the Owens’ fled the country and have not returned since.

In light of Delia Owens’ book resurfacing as a film, controversy has arisen involving this incident. The Owens’ are wanted for questioning over the unnamed man who was shot and since the occurrence, Mr. Owens specifically seems to be dismissive of the realities regarding the incident. There are suspicions that it was Mark Owens's son, Christopher, who fired a shot at the suspected poacher, but the couple appears to be covering those claims up. The body of the shot man was never recovered, and while there are inklings suggesting it was dumped into a lake, by Mark, that has not been confirmed.

Outside of this appalling incident, the couple has been accused of further claims they've made seemingly discerning the Owens’ as ‘white supremacists’. These claims have suggested human population control in Africa as well as a reference to Africa as “the Dark Continent” on their foundation's webpage. The New Yorker’s article, “The Hunted” by Jeffrey Goldberg entails a detailed depiction of the couple's time spent in Africa and the consequences that followed the journey on their anti-poaching missions.

Supporters of favored talent like Taylor Swift, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Reese Witherspoon are disheartened to discover their ignorance before giving various parts of their power and aptitude to this production.

What are your thoughts on Delia Owens Where the Crawdads Sing being adapted into a film? Leave a comment below.