In Amazon Prime Video’s limited series “Wilderness,” the revenge-driven storyline is accompanied by a carefully curated playlist that sets the tone for the series. Creator Marnie Dickens embedded songs by female artists like Britney Spears, St. Vincent, and Tkay Maidza to underscore the protagonist’s complex emotions. However, one song choice was left open, and it led to a surprising collaboration.
Executive producer Elizabeth Kilgarriff revealed that Marnie Dickens had initially suggested Taylor Swift’s hit song “Look What You Made Me Do” as the perfect theme song for the series. They were uncertain if they could secure the rights to the song but decided to reach out to Taylor Swift’s team.
To their amazement, Taylor Swift expressed interest in being involved with the series. The song, originally released as part of Swift’s 2017 “Reputation” album, aligns with the series’ theme of revenge, making it a fitting choice for the soundtrack.
“Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)” is not the first Taylor Swift song featured on Prime Video. The streaming platform previously used Swift’s re-recorded tracks for its series “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” However, in “Wilderness,” the song is deeply intertwined with the narrative, featuring in the teaser, opening titles, and various episodes. The tagline for the series, “Look what he made her do,” was also inspired by the song.
In “Wilderness,” the song aligns with the lead character’s motivations and experiences, making it a crucial part of the series’ atmosphere. Narratively, the song mirrors the protagonist’s emotions and motivations as she seeks revenge.
Kilgarriff emphasized that, despite the song’s prominence in the series, they aimed to make “Wilderness” more than just another revenge story. The plot takes unexpected twists, throwing a wrench into the character’s revenge plans, which adds depth to the storyline.
The collaboration with Taylor Swift and the use of “Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)” add a unique and powerful dimension to the series, elevating its impact and resonating with viewers.
