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DON’T GET US wrong, some of the best TV coming out in the world right now has its origins in America.
It’s the Golden Age of US TV, and that’s all fine and dandy. But are American remakes of original shows ever truly worth the outing? Think of the US remakes of Skins, or Shameless, or The Killing. Not great, right? Better to catch the originals.
Well, here are some others you need to get on quick - before the Americans get their mucky paws on them.
1. Utopia
A conspiracy theory thriller that came out on Channel 4 last year. With its stunning cinematography, incredible soundtrack and compelling story, it’s a great watch. However, the show is quite graphically violent with dark themes, so there’s concern that a forthcoming US remake might be slightly watered-down.
Black Mirror is the brainchild of Charlie Brooker, the foul-mouthed TV critic curmudgeon. It’s an anthology series, meaning each episode stands alone, and it focuses on the dark side of life and technology. Two seasons have aired, with a third in the pipes. Robert Downey Jr has optioned the episode The Entire History Of You to potentially be made into an American film by Warner Bros.
At the end of 2013, writer Stuart Carolan announced that the producers of the RTE crime drama were in talks with US producers to make a new version of the hit show for the States. “It will be remade,” he confirmed. Although there’s been no further news just yet, a new series of the Irish counterpart will be on-air this coming autumn.
My Mad Fat Diary is a touching, poignant and hilarious take on the Britpop-era teenage tribulations of Rae Earl, played by the exceptional Sharon Rooney. This has spurred concern from fans of the show, since the premise is deeply rooted in Earl’s Englishness and experiences. We’ll see.
What with The Killing getting an American remake, it wasn’t long before other super-successful Scandi TV programmes followed suit. First up is Borgen, the political drama based around the first female President of Denmark, Birgitte Nyborg. HBO and BBC Worldwide are set to film a new version after initial plans for an NBC reboot were scrapped.
Channel 4′s rag-tag bunch of young people doing community service, when a freak storm hits and leaves them all with varying super powers – some great, some not so great. Although the premise sounds ridiculous, it results in a fantastic, edgy and addictive show. Show creators were at one stage involved with The OC’s mastermind to create a US version. Hmm.
This BBC show centres on the death of an eleven-year-old boy on the Dorset coast, the search for his murderer by detectives – and how it tears a community apart. Fox has already released the trailer for the remake, titled Gracepoint, which stars David Tenant reprising his role and also Anna Gunn, Skylar from Breaking Bad. The stars have said the remake will have a different ending, which is sure to divide fans.
Friday 15 November, 2024
Friday 15 November, 2024
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7 TV shows you need to see - before they get a US remake
DON’T GET US wrong, some of the best TV coming out in the world right now has its origins in America.
It’s the Golden Age of US TV, and that’s all fine and dandy. But are American remakes of original shows ever truly worth the outing? Think of the US remakes of Skins, or Shameless, or The Killing. Not great, right? Better to catch the originals.
Well, here are some others you need to get on quick - before the Americans get their mucky paws on them.
1. Utopia
A conspiracy theory thriller that came out on Channel 4 last year. With its stunning cinematography, incredible soundtrack and compelling story, it’s a great watch. However, the show is quite graphically violent with dark themes, so there’s concern that a forthcoming US remake might be slightly watered-down.
2. Black Mirror
Black Mirror is the brainchild of Charlie Brooker, the foul-mouthed TV critic curmudgeon. It’s an anthology series, meaning each episode stands alone, and it focuses on the dark side of life and technology. Two seasons have aired, with a third in the pipes. Robert Downey Jr has optioned the episode The Entire History Of You to potentially be made into an American film by Warner Bros.
3. Love/Hate
At the end of 2013, writer Stuart Carolan announced that the producers of the RTE crime drama were in talks with US producers to make a new version of the hit show for the States. “It will be remade,” he confirmed. Although there’s been no further news just yet, a new series of the Irish counterpart will be on-air this coming autumn.
4. My Mad Fat Diary
My Mad Fat Diary is a touching, poignant and hilarious take on the Britpop-era teenage tribulations of Rae Earl, played by the exceptional Sharon Rooney. This has spurred concern from fans of the show, since the premise is deeply rooted in Earl’s Englishness and experiences. We’ll see.
5. Borgen
What with The Killing getting an American remake, it wasn’t long before other super-successful Scandi TV programmes followed suit. First up is Borgen, the political drama based around the first female President of Denmark, Birgitte Nyborg. HBO and BBC Worldwide are set to film a new version after initial plans for an NBC reboot were scrapped.
6. Misfits
Channel 4′s rag-tag bunch of young people doing community service, when a freak storm hits and leaves them all with varying super powers – some great, some not so great. Although the premise sounds ridiculous, it results in a fantastic, edgy and addictive show. Show creators were at one stage involved with The OC’s mastermind to create a US version. Hmm.
7. Broadchurch
This BBC show centres on the death of an eleven-year-old boy on the Dorset coast, the search for his murderer by detectives – and how it tears a community apart. Fox has already released the trailer for the remake, titled Gracepoint, which stars David Tenant reprising his role and also Anna Gunn, Skylar from Breaking Bad. The stars have said the remake will have a different ending, which is sure to divide fans.
What are your thoughts on US remakes? Let us know in the comments.
Read: 5 classic Irish TV shows that should be remade in the US>
Read: 6 vintage Glenroe stars – where are they now?
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