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Airdate: The War of the Worlds

HG Wells classic sci-fi screening over two nights in early November.

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The War of the Worlds will screen over two nights in early November on the upcoming FOX One channel.

The series stars Eleanor Tomlinson, Rafe Spall, Robert Carlyle and Rupert Graves.

“HG Wells’ seminal novel has been adapted for the screen many times, but it’s always had a contemporary (and American) setting,” director Craig Viveiros said. “This is the first version to be set in London and [its environs] during the Edwardian period.”

Writer Peter Harness added: “The version of The War of the Worlds that I wanted to make is one that’s faithful to the tone and the spirit of the book, but which also feels contemporary, surprising and full of shocks: a collision of sci-fi, period drama and horror.”

This is screening in the UK at the moment over a three week period.

The War of the Worlds (1897) is a novel by English author HG Wells, who also wrote The Time Machine and became known as the father of science fiction. It’s one of the earliest books to tell the story of a conflict between mankind and an extra-terrestrial race. When a strange object lands in the heart of England and hatches, the inhabitants of Earth find themselves under attack from ruthless aliens armed with heat rays and poisonous smoke.

Starring Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) and Rafe Spall (Shaun of the Dead) as George and Amy, (a new addition to the story) are a couple defying the prejudices of society as they attempt to start a life together, all the while swerving the ongoing chaos of an alien invasion.

Joining the cast is Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting) as astronomer Ogilvy, and Rupert Graves (Sherlock) as George’s brother Frederick.

Thursday November 7 and Friday November 8 at 7.30pm on FOX ONE.

4 Responses

  1. My favourite book of all time, I’ve been craving a decent televisual or filmic version since I fell in love with Jeff Wayne’s musical version. Cannot wait – this looks like it might satisfy!

  3. Thank the god’s of sci-fi it is not an awful United States of AmericaLand adaprion where the good ol’ US Army lets rip with a barrage of nukes and silly soldiers all yelling “Go USA, kill the lizards” or something equally trite.

    And it has Rupert Graves which is a Good Thing.

    1. I haven’t read much about this BBC adaption but I believe it is trying to keep to the books original 1898 theme with all its early 20th century technology and culture. H.G.Wells was certainly a visionary / futurist ahead of his time.

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