Netflix's "Ripley" is an incredibly faithful adaptation of the novel "The Talented Mr Ripley" by acclaimed US author Patricia Highsmith, arguably hewing closest to the source material out of all the versions of the classic crime drama committed to screen.
Written and directed by Steven Zaillian, renowned as the screenwriter behind "The Irishman," "Schindler's List," and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," the series follows Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), a grifter making a dishonest living for himself in New York. That is until he's hired by wealthy shipping magnate Herbert Greenleaf to travel to Italy to try to convince his wayward son, Dickie (Johnny Flynn), to return to America to pursue a respectable career.
Tom's acceptance of the job is the first step in a dark, complex journey involving deceit, fraud, and murder, which audiences see unfold in meticulous detail across the eight episodes of the limited series.
Given its runtime — previous film adaptations have all been around the two-hour mark — Zaillian relishes the opportunity to remain close to the heart of the story.
However, some changes have inevitably been made to make the story better fit Zaillian's vision.
Here are the major differences between the book and the show. A word of warning, though: there are major spoilers ahead for "Ripley," and Highsmith's novel on which it is based, below.