House of the Spirits author feared certain scenes would look “ridiculous” in Prime Video adaptation

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Prime Video has adapted Isabel Allende’s epic novel, House of the Spirits, into a new series. The show tells the story of a family across multiple generations.

Originally published in 1982, this well-known novel is a prime example of magical realism, blending fantastical events with ordinary life. Allende has said she initially worried this approach might appear silly when adapted for the screen.

The author explained in a recent interview with TopMob that demonstrating this on a screen just doesn’t work – it looks silly.

The story heavily features magical realism, a style where fantastical elements are woven into realistic settings. This is especially evident in the character of Clara del Valle Trueba, who is portrayed by both Nicole Wallace and Dolores Fonzi.

This remarkable woman possesses incredible psychic abilities. She accurately foresees future events, can move objects using only her mind, and is able to connect with those who have passed on.

Bringing these story details to the screen is tricky, especially when also trying to capture the book’s serious political ideas and overall dark atmosphere.

I’m really intrigued by this new series! It’s so different from Bille August’s film from 1993, and I’m excited to see the vision that showrunners Francisca Alegría, Fernanda Urrejola, and Andrés Wood are bringing to it. They’ve clearly taken things in a whole new direction.

The film featured a well-known cast – including Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, and Jeremy Irons – but faced criticism for casting mostly white actors in roles that could have been more diverse. It also simplified the story from the original novel, opting for a more conventional Hollywood approach.

Even seemingly minor details were hard to translate into the film, like the bright green hair of Rosa del Valle, Clara’s sister.

She remembered the director saying he didn’t want anyone with green hair on screen, as it would resemble a clown’s wig.

The latest installment is much more subtle in its execution. As one observer noted, “There’s a hint of green – it’s not immediately obvious, but it’s there if you look closely. It was done really well.”

Shot on location in Chile with a largely Latinx cast and crew, this Prime Video series is the first-ever Spanish-language version of the story. Author Isabel Allende herself has called it “completely authentic.”

I’m really amazed! I didn’t realize there would be so much, and that it would be so full of flavor and have such a wonderful feel to it.

This eight-part series beautifully adapts Isabel Allende’s famous novel, bringing a long-awaited Latin American story to life with a cinematic and realistic feel.

The House of the Spirits is available to stream now on Prime Video.

Authors

Nicola AustinFreelance Writer

I’m a big fan of Nicola Austin – she’s a freelance journalist who really gets sci-fi, fantasy, and animation. I’ve seen her work pop up all over the place, in publications like Empire, Digital Spy, and SciFiNow, which is awesome. And honestly? She’s absolutely right about The Mummy – it’s a total 90s classic and one of the best adventure films ever made!

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2026-04-29 19:37