FOX drops US Torchwood plans
FOX has decided not to pursue a U.S production of Torchwood, but it may yet surface elsewhere.
- Published by David Knox
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This is one story that is going to be more interesting when the people behind it spill a little more.
FOX has decided not to pursue a U.S production of Torchwood.
But BBC Worldwide says an American Torchwood is still a possibility elsewhere.
“BBC Worldwide Productions and the FOX Broadcasting Company have mutually agreed not to progress together with a 13-episode serialized Torchwood format,” said BBC Worldwide in a statement. “We are currently in discussion with several interested networks.”
Jane Tranter from BBC Worldwide reiterated that, “It’s very much ongoing and very much alive.”
Central to an unanswered question is the observation made by John Barrowman recently: “The last thing I would want would be for Jack to become this heterosexual, straight hero. He’s an omnisexual guy. He likes men, women, aliens, whatever. I think we should continue going down that route.”
Any effort to ‘straighten’ Capt. Jack would be followed by a “really big discussion,” Barrowman stressed, adding that it would ultimately be up to series creator Russell T. Davies and producing partner Julie Gardner to fight that battle. Gardner is also said to have insisted on Barrowman or nobody in the role.
How much of a sticking point these issues were between parties is unclear.
As to a U.S. edition Doctor Who, Tranter says, “It may well be confusing to have a British Doctor and an American Doctor at the same time,” she said. “There is only one Doctor, so I don’t see that happening.”
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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- Tagged with Doctor Who, Torchwood
15 Responses
@Benjamin, don’t forget Sanford & Son did quite well. Not sure if the planned American version of Fawlty Towers without the character of Basil is apocryphal though.
I’m with Matthew – CofE was riveting TV. I watched all 5 eps in one day!
Better idea -> more BBC made Tourchwood! Children Of Earth was some of the best television I have seen in years!
@Tony, @Craig: don’t forget there already has been an American version of Doctor Who. In 1996. On Fox. The pilot rated so badly in the US that plans for a full season were abandoned.
Best news I’ve heard all day. No Americanised Torchwood, no heteroing of Captain Jack, and best of all, no FOX!
how can they even contemplate thinking about an American version of Doctor Who! That would be disastrous!
Thank gawd for that!
Weeks ago Fox renewed Fringe for another season. This is just a guess but perhaps the reason Fox is not going ahead with the American Torchwood is that it look too similar to Fringe.
A US Version of Torchwood is unnecessary and Jack is not a character that would be handled appropriately by the US networks … leave it alone, it can not be “improved on”, …
If some of it were filmed in the US, that would be great, but needs to remain a BBC Wales production …
Jack!
The rights hold for the Doctor Who franchise would never allow a US remake.
I don’t get this obsession with the US remaking shows from other countries to call them their own, the one show that has worked was The Office but as said here there is along list of others that haven’t.
The closest thing the US has to “Packed to the Rafters” would be “Brothers & Sisters” or “Parenthood” which is in it’s self loosely base on the movie from 1989.
Don’t forget Russell T. Davies had a very successful experience with the US adaptation of Queer As Folk. Holds up in its own right.
Well, thank god for that. If Captain Jack can’t kiss cute boys while simultaneously saving the world, there’s really no point to it.
The Office is the exception to the rule, of course. Yes, a good decision not to continue with it. And an American Dr Who doesn’t bear thinking about!
Good. They would have wrecked it. There’s only one Captain Jack.
For the US Network, that is planning on doing an american remake of NZ’s “Outrageous Fortune” & UK’s “Shameless”, – Don’t attempt it.
The US Tv networks have tried & failed to do remakes of UK , NZ & Aussie show such as:-
– “The Vicar of Dibly”;
– “Prisoners”;
– “Footballer’s Wives”;
– “Kath & Kim” ; & now
– “Torchwood”.
Let’s hope that Australia’s “Packed to the Rafters” & NZ’s “Outragous Fortune” isn’t americanised!.