While the first entry in our list could qualify as, “Something Franklin got wrong,” we’re going to say this entry describes something the show leaves out: Franklin’s signature pot belly (and his entire appearance to go along with it). We’ve all seen portraits of Franklin, at least from one specific, older age bracket: round, wire-framed glasses, double chin, thick throat, hairline that recedes into a near-skullet, some puffy bits of his clothing at the neck and wrists, pot belly, and so forth.
In the Apple+ show “Franklin,” however, Franklin looks more like “Michael Douglas in a wig with way too much hair,” as Time Magazine correctly states. The truth is: If you didn’t know Douglas was playing Benjamin Franklin, you wouldn’t even be able to guess Douglas’ role. Also, Franklin was 70 years old when he went to France, but Douglas, who is 79, looks younger than 70 in the show.
Why the omission of Franklin’s real appearance? Douglass just didn’t want to deal with the makeup and prosthetics. This isn’t an unreasonable request for a person who’s nearly 80. And, we could also argue that Douglas’ appearance in “Franklin” is the least important element of the show. However, the omission stands out precisely because Franklin’s appearance is so iconic and recognizable.
