For once, Fox may make genre fans happy.
The network has decided to pass on the opportunity to create an American version of the hit British series, “Torchwood.”
However, that doesn’t mean the project couldn’t appear on a different U.S. network.
“BBC Worldwide Productions and the FOX Broadcasting Company have mutually agreed not to progress together with a 13-episode serialized ‘Torchwood’ format,” said BBC Worldwide in a statement. “We are currently in discussion with several interested networks.”
As to that last part, BBC Worldwide executive vp of programming and production Jane Tranter reiterated that a U.S. version was still making progress.
“It’s very much ongoing and very much alive,” Tranter said.
Tranter went on to say that reports of a U.S. version of “Doctor Who” are not true.
“It may well be confusing to have a British Doctor and an American Doctor at the same time,” she said. “There is only one Doctor, so I don’t see that happening.”
No word yet on the other networks that BBC Worldwide Productions could be shopping a U.S. “Torchwood” series to. There’s also no word yet on if or when the series will be back in the U.K.
I take back everything I’ve ever said to the contrary. There *is* a god! 🙂
That was a close one. I’m an American and although I’d be able to see new episodes faster (with no multi-week or month delay), I’d rather see “Torchwood” stay in the UK. And when it comes to “Doctor Who” shows, remakes are a horrible idea.
I’m against an American re-make but it it does happen the only way it might be watchable is if it shows up on HBO, Showtime, or Starz. It would loose all the intensity and rawness on network or basic cable.
GREAT NEWS!!!! I agree this needs to go to a premium network or forget it. It will be dumbed down to the American level, 1st Grade, if a US network picked it up.
As to Doctor Who for the US- Never, Never, Never- Same Concept- Americans are not worldly enough to appreciate British humor, outlook and general societal differrences, Same goes for other countries, we treat and think of them as less than us. This is so not true. It is also not true for most of us Fans but the general public would not get it.
Torchwood on Fox never made sense to me. But the show could definitely be retooled into a darker sexier 13-episode version on the F/X channel.
It’s still being shopped around, it may end up on USA or TNT or something.
K-9, please, if us Americans ain’t worldly ’nuff and ain’t got no smarts to ‘preciate sumtin’ like Who, than how comes so many of us adore it? Hmmm?
Phew!
I second Colin’s suggestion. Talk to the premium networks who aren’t afraid of the sexual content or of putting it in the same show with overt violence. Y’know, a network that won’t freak out if the macho, aggressive leader starts macking on dudes.
“It will be dumbed down to the American level, 1st Grade, if a US network picked it up.”
Not if it’s on Showtime or HBO.
Hallelujah!
K9, don’t be so quick to generalize. Doctor Who has millions of American fans. Personally speaking, it’s my favorite show, but I never saw it as being more “adult”, “mature”, or “deep” than a lot of American TV (especially today). Plus, as John Oliver tells us in his BBC America DVD intros (and reiterated in Monday’s Daily Show episode), Americans seem to appreciate British humor just fine 🙂
The one thing I might agree with you on is that America probably wouldn’t go along with Captain Jack. We’ve had very little exposure to characters whose homosexuality is simply one tiny aspect, and not their whole definition. The L Word, Brokeback Mountain, etc. were all stories about gay people… not about people who happened to be gay. I guarantee you the first thing that will be said about an American Torchwood will involve the words “gay” and “agenda” *sighs* Well, all that and Sci-Fi is not doing very well in American TV right now. Mostly because we’ve not been given anything worth getting excited about. They’d be facing a very difficult uphill battle.