Renewed: Around the World in 80 Days
Upcoming Jules Verne adaptation approved for a second season -and another is on the way.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
Upcoming UK production Around the World in 80 Days has been renewed for a second season ahead of its global premiere.
David Tennant is expected to return as adventurer Phileas Fogg alongside Ibrahim Koma as Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as Abigail.
The series is due to launch imminently in the USA and UK, and will screen in Australia on Seven, which was an original backer of the project.
Producers Slim Film + Television and Federation Entertainment also confirmed another Jules Verne adaptation, Journey to the Centre of the Earth with showrunner Ashley Pharaoh (Life on Mars).
“We have loved working on the sequel to Around the World in 80 Days and now we are excited to also bring Ashley’s trademark blend of humour and emotion to Journey to the Centre of the Earth” said producer Crawford Collins in a statement. “Ashley has developed an ensemble of exciting new and updated characters to bring a fresh and modern take to another of Jules Verne’s beloved novels.”
Seven is yet to confirm a date for Around the World in 80 Days.
Source: Variety
3 Responses
I’m curious why this classic Jules Vern tale gets a season 2 before the first season is run, I can only presume that some studio marketing was done and the pre-release screenings were received well by audiences and critics, though nowadays some of these on line critics are not the viewer guide they once were, IMO. Personally, I believe making a multi-season production of ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ does set an unfortunate precedent for producers to do the same with other classic stories like ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’, also by Vern, which would definitely become another ‘Lost’ or ‘La Brea’ if it were to continue.
Many shows get a second season or double commissions if the studio has confidence, and can amortise costs. Sometimes shows are quietly commissioned for 2 but they publicise it this way.
What a pity it is going to be on Seven. I would have liked to watch this. However, I will not even attempt to watch something totally butchered by blocks of 10 or so ads every five minutes so they can recoup their investment and generate a massive profit on top.
We need to find a way for the ABC to be able to invest in these sorts of programs and leave the commercial networks to their inane reality rubbish and cheap and cheerful game shows.