If you’re wondering what Russell T. Davies has been up to since leaving Doctor Who, the answer comes all the way from H’wood, as creator has moved to Los Angeles to develop a U.S. version of the Torchwood series for Fox Television.
While I’ve seen many U.S. series based on international programming tank, the fact the Davies is on board might mean this series works. Also rumored are the reports that Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) might just star in the pilot. Whether or not he would continue in an ongoing series is unknown, but with a more global approach to the organization in the ‘merican version, it wouldn’t surprise me if Capt. Jack doesn’t make more than one appearance in the show.
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It’ll be interesting to see how well this Americanized version is compared to the other sci-fi shows that the USA already has being made. I cranked thru 2 seasons of Torchwood some time ago, and it took a little bit of tolerance for me to get to be interested in it. Though it would be nice to have Capt. Jack make an appearance, I wonder if they’re going to go so far as to make a Doctor Who reference as well? Just the news of this makes me unsure of a show like this surviving the pilot stage.
I have to be honest and say that I find that usually this sort of effort dies a death due to suckage.
anyone ever see the red dwarf pilot they did? With out trying to be derogatory thers a different mindset to certain things. I can’t help feeling it would end up a Star Gate clone.
Uuugh, I’m not a fan of Torchwood, but c’mon America, British tv doesn’t need to always be adapted. Now if they want to try and justify this as a spin-off, I’m still missing the point.
I’m not overly optimistic. Primarily, I’m worried that they couldn’t stick to the premise in the relatively few episodes they’ve had. The whole secret organization angle was dropped pretty quickly.
However, while there have been some failures like Coupling, there have also been some successful adaptations of British shows. All in the Family and Three’s Company were probably the most successful. Of course, those shows used the premise but adapted the situations to America and didn’t try to lift whole scripts.
Personally i’ve preferred Torchwood (season two rocked my socks off) to how predictable and “safe” Doctor Who has become. Not to mention how Torchwood paid more attention to character and people actually changed from things. Although i have to say part of the appeal to me is how the Cardiff team seems to be alone in it all, even though they have power, no one really likes them or trusts them. No doubt the relationships will be typical straight with maybe a token gay, not that it was vital to the other one, but it made it stand out.
Solution to all this, Fox or whatever network, pay them to make it where it was, with that cast, then air them in both places. That way we get quality, and they get more episodes. ;)
You’re right. There’s no reason at all Fox can’t use the existing sets, crew, and actors, what are left of them anyways…