Gracepoint has been
under discussion in FOX TV’s presentation today as part of the TV Critics
Association Winter Press Tour 2014, with FOX network entertainment chairman
Kevin Reilly sharing some eagerly awaited information about the Broadchurch remake.
FOX originally considered airing the original eight-episode UK version, but
as instead elected to make their own version. As Reilly explains, “We really
did contemplate it, but I think it would probably be lower-rated, where we
could have a really big win with this. As great as Broadchurch is, 99.9 percent of
the U.S. public would have
never seen that show…[U.S.
viewers] would be more comfortable seeing something made for America …” He added that cultural peculiarities in the original may also have turned US viewers away.
The remake was due to be with an all-American cast until
David Tennant, star of the original expressed an interest. He will reprise the
part of the male lead investigator, now an American detective called Emmett
Carver. Kevin Reilly suggested that Gracepoint
had the potential to do to great things to David Tennant’s US career: "...his Hugh
Laurie moment".
The big question was, of course, how faithful to the
original the remake would be, particularly in terms of the ending. Reilly assured
viewers that it would be worth watching the new ten-part adaptation. “We have a
different ending than they have, so there will be something to stay tuned for
with a twist,” he said, however he added that they would not stray too far from
the original award-winning story: “I’ve learned the hard way: don’t fix what
ain’t broke.”
Gracepoint, like Broadchurch, follows the impact of the
shocking murder of a young boy on a sleepy coastal town and the effect on the community of fear, suspicion and press intrusion. Other cast include
Anna Gunn, Jacki Weaver, Kevin Zegers and Nick Nolte. Filming starts on 27th January
in locations around Canada
and California .
Gracepoint is to
be produced by Shine America in
association with Kudos and Imaginary Friends and is due to air during the
2014-2015 season. The show will be executive-produced by the original series
creator, Chris Chibnall, who has also written the opening episode. Other
executive producers are Shine America ’s
Carolyn Bernstein, Kudos’ Jane Featherstone, and Dan Futterman and Anya Epstein,
who will also serve as showrunners.
Comments
Post a Comment