Triffids sprouts a cast
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 by Graham Kibble-White
The BBC has announced its impressive cast list for The Day of the Triffids.
Here’s the relevant bit from the press release.
The confirmed cast list includes: Dougray Scott as Bill Masen, Joely Richardson as Jo Playton, Brian Cox as Dennis Masen; Vanessa Redgrave as Durrant, Eddie Izzard as Torrence and Jason Priestley as Coker.
Justin Bodle, Executive Producer, Power says: “We are enormously excited to have secured this stellar cast for The Day of the Triffids. Together with its amazing effects and iconic locations, will deliver the drama mini series event of 2009.”
Julie Gardner, Head of Drama, BBC Wales adds: “The incredible cast lined-up for The Day of the Triffids is testament to the quality of Patrick Harbinson’s script. We hope audiences, both old and new will be captivated by this modern take of John Wyndham’s classic best-selling novel.”
Currently filming in the South-East until April for transmission later this year, The Day of The Triffids is a Power production for BBC1. The Executive Producer is Justin Bodle (Power). Stephen Smallwood is the producer (Murphy’s Law) and the director is Nick Copus (The Summit, EastEnders). Further Executive Producers are Jay Firestone (Prodigy Pictures) and Julie Gardener (BBC).
The Day of the Triffids is part of the broad mix of dramas commissioned for BBC1 for transmission in 2009 which includes Occupation, Small Island, Emma and Sherlock Holmes.
The Day of the Triffids is also being shown on BBC HD – the BBC’s High Definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
That’s the most insanely impressive cast for any BBC1 production in memory. How’d they manage that?
I’d have preferred ‘He Kills Coppers’ Mel Raido as Bill Masen. If anything, there’s too many big names – to make up for what is relatively weak sci-fi perhaps?