NEWS! James to star in "Great Train Robbery"!

[Scully Z.]

FINALLY!! Google Alerts is good for something besides sending me bogus links to "James Wilbys" that aren't The Boss himself. Whoooohooo for technology!

Anyway, excitedness aside, it looks like James is set to star in the BBC's adaptation of "The Great Train Robbery" along with that font of awesomeness known as Jim Broadbent. Filming started in March on the first installment, with James starring in the second of the two 90-minute films. It has yet to film, which is why I'm not sure who he's going to play, but you can bet that once I find out, it will be here! In the meantime, here's linkage for y'all. Big love!

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-broadbent-star-bbcs-great-450916

www.tvwise.co.uk/2013/05/jim-broadbent-robert-glenister-more-cast-in-bbc-ones-the-great-train-robbery/

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/broadbent-cast-gtr.html

[Scully Z.]

Okay---it's been confirmed that James will star in the second of the two films planned by the BBC about the Great Train Robbery. Here's more from Deadline.com:

"Oscar winner Jim Broadbent will play Tommy Butler, the detective who relentlessly sought to bring the gang behind the infamous August 8, 1963 robbery of a Royal Mail train to justice. The BBC‘s two-part drama The Great Train Robbery kicks off with The Robbers’ Tale, the story of how the heist was planned and executed. Luke Evans will play Bruce Reynolds, the mastermind behind the heist. The second part, A Coppers’ Tale, will feature Broadbent leading the Scotland Yard team Butler assembled to bring the thieves to justice in a race against time. Also joining A Coppers’ Tale are Tim Pigott-Smith (Downton Abbey, Alice In Wonderland), Robert Glenister (Law & Order: UK, Hustle), Tom Chambers (Waterloo Road), Tom Beard (Salmon Fishing In The Yemen), James Wilby (Titanic) and James Fox (W.E., Utopia).

Created by Broadchurch and Camelot exec producer Chris Chibnall, the films are produced by World Productions for BBC One. Part two will be directed by James Strong (Broadchurch). Simon Heath and Polly Hill are exec producers, and Julia Stannard is producer. Part 1 began shooting in March. There is no airdate, although this August marks the 50th anniversary of the heist."

[glamazon23]

Waiiit, how did I miss this?! When is this coming out?

[Scully Z.]

I think it already came out on BBC1 this fall. I need to see about procuring a copy of it so I can see it. (or download it illegally)

[claire]

Hello! Just joined your forum specially to report the good news! According to CrimeTimePreview (26 Nov 2013), The Great Train Robbery *hasn’t* aired yet – but it’s due very soon:
www.crimetimepreview.com/2013/11/the-great-train-robbery-bbc1-luke-evans.html

Part 1: BBC1, Weds 18 December 2013, 8pm
Air date for Part 2 not stated. (Possibly the same week, bearing in mind that Weds 25th is Christmas Day?)

And, as you can see in my link, the (p)review from CrimeTimePreview is stonkingly positive. *Rubs hands excitedly and rushes to diary*

[Scully Z.]

WOWWOWWOW!!!! This is FABULOUS NEWS!! Thank you, Claire!! *applause* Thank you so much for coming on board!

[claire]

It‘s a pleasure!

More good news (I *don’t* think I’ve seen anything about this on your boards?):

James *also* gave a highly entertaining performance recently (18 November 2013, BBC1) in Season 2, Episode 3 of the BBC’s superb 1880s–90s London policing drama series Ripper Street. For fans who can access BBC i-Player, the episode (Dynamite and a Woman) is viewable online until Monday 23 December:

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03jpmz3/Ripper_Street_Series_2_Dynamite_and_a_Woman/

Obligatory warnings. James plays the guest-star villain. I personally love Ripper Street – and I don’t want to spoiler an excellent episode for anyone - but (for those not familiar with the series) RS comes with a routine warning about ‘scenes some viewers may find distressing’ (murders, graphic forensics scenes, dramatic deaths...), and this episode is no exception. But if you can handle that, it is also a dramatically superb, historically fascinating, visually brilliant series that I can’t recommend highly enough. I can’t tell you how excited I was to see James guesting in it, and his performance is wonderful: genuinely in a league that *ought* to put him on the map for further good offers...

Sadly, the BBC announced this week that it will not be commissioning a third season of Ripper Street. Worse, Season 2 was due to air on BBC America starting this week but seems now to have been pulled from the schedule! Even the cast and crew weren’t told of the cancellation decision until last week, and seem as gutted about it as the fans.