For months, rumors have been flying that Fox was interested in an American version of the BBC’s “Torchwood.”
While details on the project are still extremely vague, one common thread to many stories would be the involvement of actor John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness.
However, should Captain Jack be part of the regular team or a recurring guest on the show, Barrowman has one request for Fox. Please don’t change the character.
“I hope wherever [the franchise] goes that the show stays the same,” Barrowman tells EW’s Michael Ausiello “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.”
Barrowman stressed that any effort to de-gay Capt. Jack would result in a “really big discussion,” adding that it would ultimately be up to series creator Russell T Davies and producing partner Julie Gardner to fight that battle.
“Julie has said, as has Russell, that there will be no Torchwood without John Barrowman as Capt. Jack,” he said. “If I am asked to do Torchwood again, I will do it at the drop of a hat—whether it’s in America or back in Britain or if it’s for a film. I absolutely love Capt. Jack.”
OK, no. An American version of Torchwood would not be good. Too much would be changed.
Perhaps Jack would be left “omnisexual”, but I can guarantee that we wouldn’t ever see him kiss anyone/anything other that a female human or alien, but never see him kiss a guy.
And this is coming from a Gay American.
I have a better suggestion. Just don’t do an American version of Torchwood. Especially not on Fox. Please. Only bad things can come from this.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Given previous failed attempts to Americanize BBC shows, it seems very unlikely that a Fox version of Torchwood would be successful. Particularly since even BBC America feels the need to tone down some of the content in the original. For all of its hype about being the edgy, sexy network, Fox is desperately afraid of actual sexual or potentially controversial content. Without that, Torchwood would just be another chase-the-bad-guys-and-blow-things-up show. Which can be fun if done well, but it’s not Torchwood.
I’ve oversimplified quite a lot, but I think you get my point.
What’s the big deal?
Considering this is FOX we’re talking about, you know they’ll cancel it after one episode anyway.
Barrowman doesn’t understand that it’s:
1) Fox
2) Broadcast TV
3) 2010…in the U.S.A. where gay people still can’t marry.
Yes, we…meaning the largely sophisticated and open-minded geek community…understand that Capt Jack Harkness is omnisexual.
But we’re not talking about us. And we’re apparently not talking about Fox’s slightly more sophisticated and daring sibling FX
We’re talking about: Fox. Broadcast, advertiser-driven, primetime, “Jack Bauer can torture even his girlfriend but don’t you DARE have him kiss a man” TV.
And, yes Jeff.
Not only would they cancel it after one episode, it wouldn’t even be the PILOT.
They’d show one episode they put together after dismissing the pilot, then they’d cancel the series…and then show the pilot.
Tallgrll I agree with everything but number 3. They can’t marry in the UK either and it worked there.
Please don’t let an Americanized version be made. The casting would be all vanilla, (no multi ethnic groups represented), not to mention the homophobia that will have a drastic effect on the plot. No, America is still to racist and homophobic to do a Torchwood re-make any justice. Sorry, I don’t mean to offend the open-minded on this web page, but the truth is the truth.
I am left breathless at the thought of this!!!!! How horrible it will be if true. Alas the good news is that it will be gone in a week or 2.
I loved Torchwood, but his omni-sexual nature was one of the things I never cared for in general. I understood it, so it never bothered me, but if he became completely hetero… I won’t blink an eye. Again, if they keep him “as is”… cool… but, I won’t be crying in my milk.
I have a vision of the American version of Torchwood appearing either on the Friday night death slot (Doll House and Terminator Sarah Conner) or late Sunday night with little or no advertising. It will also be preempted several times for special presentations or sporting events. It will be moved to a different night and time at least once and will finally be cancelled after less then eight episodes are shown because it failed to catch on with American viewers.
KG: So, you want Fox to assuage your veiled homophobia by changing a key aspect of the character if they show him on American TV? Using your logic, wouldn’t Marvel studios have to make Moon Knight a Christian if they brought him to the big screen since Islam isn’t exactly popular in middle America right now?
As much as I’d love more Torchwood, an American version will only end in tears and anguish from all us sci fi geeks.
I’ve got an idea. I’m thinking most people could not care less that Capt. Jack is pansexual. Most people probably could survive just fine watching stories and characters unfold without him wanting to get into everyone’s pants. It’s actually quite juvenile and distracting to the story when I watch him. Otherwise he’s a brilliant character. Too bad.
FOX would be a curse on that show (as they are to many good ones).
Torchwood just would not work on Fox. No science fiction ever really does work on their network. I’ll just say “Firefly” and leave it at that.