I’ve just been forwarded this interesting press release from my brother relating to a remake of that other 1970s BBC sci-fi show Blake’s 7.
Whilst a Blake’s 7 remake has been mooted for some time, the fact that it is now being marketed to buyers and with director Martin Campbell named at the helm suggests that it is actually moving forward.
The original series which ran from 1978-1981 followed a group of escaped convicts on the run from the Federation. As with Doctor Who, the show was made on a shoestring budget by today’s standards. I recommend that anyone seeking a bit of nostalgia looks elsewhere, as the original TV show really shows it’s age and is best left as a memory.
It seems as if the remake is, thankfully, exactly that; going down the Battlestar Galactica re-imagining route rather than a continuation like Doctor Who. That being said it would be very difficult to continue the 70s show considering they all die in the last episode.
Check out the press release:
FremantleMedia International Launches Georgeville TV’s Remake of Cult Series Blake’s 7 To MIPTV Buyers
MIPTV, Cannes, 8 April 2013 – FremantleMedia International today launches the eagerly anticipated remake of the cult drama Blake’s 7 to international buyers at MIPTV. In development with US cable network Syfy, the 13 x 1 hour series will be produced by Georgeville TV, the independent studio co-founded by Leon Clarance of Motion Picture Capital, the financing arm of Reliance Entertainment, and producer Marc Rosen. The science fiction classic will be written by Joe Pokaski (Heroes, CSI) and directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye).
The year is 2136, Blake wakes up on one side of the bed. He reaches for the other side. There’s nobody there. As reality sets in, this handsome ex-soldier sits up, and looks at a photo of his wife Rachel. Beautiful. Deceased.
A revolutionary reinvention of the long-running BBC series made in the late 1970s, Blake’s 7 tells the story of seven criminals – 6 guilty and 1 innocent – on their way to life on a prison colony in space, who together wrestle freedom from imprisonment. They acquire an alien ship which gives them a second chance at life and become the most unlikely heroes of their time.
David Ellender, CEO FremantleMedia International and Kids & Family Entertainment said, “Blake’s 7 was such a forward-thinking concept that the show continues to have resonance with audiences today. Its complex characters and gritty storylines, coupled with the highly talented team and modern production techniques are sure to appeal to both original fans of the show and new viewers.”
Leon Clarance, co-founder of Georgeville Television and CEO of Motion Picture Capital, the finance arm of Reliance Entertainment, said, “Joe Pokaski and Martin Campbell have worked tirelessly with the Georgeville TV team to create an amazeballs reboot of this classic space opera which I watched with my father when I was a child. This reimagined classic for a new generation of science fiction fans will enthrall original and new fans alike. I couldn’t be happier to have our beloved show handled internationally by the passionate team at FremantleMedia”
Blake’s 7 is one of several premium drama offerings in the FremantleMedia International scripted portfolio which includes Wentworth (10 x 1 hour), a FremantleMedia Australia production set to premiere on Australia’s Foxtel in May this year, and The Making of a Lady, a psychological event thriller produced by Runaway Fridge and which captivated UK audiences when it aired on ITV1 in December 2012.