Branagh is given lead role in £6m BBC Scotland adaptation of hit crime novels
Kenneth Branagh will star as a hard-drinking Swedish detective in a £6m TV series commissioned by BBC Scotland, it was revealed yesterday.
The actor will play Kurt Wallander in adaptations of three critically acclaimed crime novels by Swedish author Henning Mankell.
Wallander, which will be filmed on location in Sweden, is a major coup for BBC Scotland and comes only a few months after director-general Mark Thompson said the corporation north of the border should triple its output for UK networks.
The new series of 90-minute programmes is being co-produced by three independent companies after being commissioned by Anne Mensah, head of drama at BBC Scotland.
She said: "Wallander is an extremely ambitious project - after all, we're looking to create a classic new detective character for British television.
"We couldn't hope for a stronger team behind the project, nor for a more perfect leading man."
The books have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and the programmes will be based on three of the novels, Sidetracked, One Step Behind and Firewall.
Branagh, whose production company will make the series in conjunction with Left Bank Pictures and Mankell's own company Yellow Bird, said he was a fan of the novels.
He said: "Wallander is a wonderfully complex and compelling character and, as a long-time admirer of the novels, I'm very excited to be playing this fascinatingly flawed but deeply human detective."
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without
permission is prohibited.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 9:45am Fri 11 Jan 08
[quote]Branagh, whose production company will make the series in conjunction with Left Bank Pictures and Mankell's own company Yellow Bird, said he was a fan of the novels[/quote] A non-Scottish detective, in a non-Scottish city, played by a non-Scottish actor, produced by a non-Scottish company ... for BBC Scotland.
Yes, it all makes sense.
There is such a terrible paucity of home grown subject matter we are forced to go abroad to find it. well done, BBC Scotland.
Erm ... dare I ask if Ann Mensah, head of drama is ... erm, Scottish?
Branagh, whose production company will make the series in conjunction with Left Bank Pictures and Mankell's own company Yellow Bird, said he was a fan of the novels
A non-Scottish detective, in a non-Scottish city, played by a non-Scottish actor, produced by a non-Scottish company ... for BBC Scotland.
Yes, it all makes sense.
There is such a terrible paucity of home grown subject matter we are forced to go abroad to find it. well done, BBC Scotland.
Erm ... dare I ask if Ann Mensah, head of drama is ... erm, Scottish?
Posted by: Kirtkintilloch, Los Angeles on 12:50am Sat 12 Jan 08
I have never seen a more cogent comment posted on this site. Where is the host of other comments that should be posted regarding this flagrant snub of everything Scottish? This is not to mention the absurdity of spending the bulk of 6 million pounds in and about Sweden. I read a great deal and I have never heard of this character and I imagine that there are not too many in Scotland who have. Writers, actors and most importantly the crafts people who would be involved are all diminished by this type of elitism. gssb
I have never seen a more cogent comment posted on this site. Where is the host of other comments that should be posted regarding this flagrant snub of everything Scottish? This is not to mention the absurdity of spending the bulk of 6 million pounds in and about Sweden. I read a great deal and I have never heard of this character and I imagine that there are not too many in Scotland who have. Writers, actors and most importantly the crafts people who would be involved are all diminished by this type of elitism. gssb
Posted by: John Anderson on 11:29am Sun 13 Jan 08
Anne Mensa is the singe worst thing that has happened to the Scottish Drama industry in the last 10 years. She has turned BBC Scotland into the biggest post office box in the country. She has no intention of producing drama in Scotland and is getting away with blatent money laundering.
Why is someone not stepping in to stop this. We are teetering in the edge of destroying the Scottish film industry alltogether. The Scottish Baftas were a disgrace this year, they even failed to provide more than one nomination for best female lead and could not get themselves televised !!
Anne Mensa is the singe worst thing that has happened to the Scottish Drama industry in the last 10 years. She has turned BBC Scotland into the biggest post office box in the country. She has no intention of producing drama in Scotland and is getting away with blatent money laundering.
Why is someone not stepping in to stop this. We are teetering in the edge of destroying the Scottish film industry alltogether. The Scottish Baftas were a disgrace this year, they even failed to provide more than one nomination for best female lead and could not get themselves televised !!
Posted by: I. Johnstone, SCOTLAND on 10:15pm Sun 13 Jan 08
Well Alex Salmond, what will you have to say about this one? BBC Scotl.....sorry, Sweden, are really going to enjoy themselves making this drama.The local crew will be rubbing their hands,the regional council in the area it is to be made will be cracking open the Carlsberg. OH! Thank you Ms Mensa, thank you,thank you,thank you.
Would the last person to leave Pacific Quay please turn off the lights!
Well Alex Salmond, what will you have to say about this one? BBC Scotl.....sorry, Sweden, are really going to enjoy themselves making this drama.The local crew will be rubbing their hands,the regional council in the area it is to be made will be cracking open the Carlsberg. OH! Thank you Ms Mensa, thank you,thank you,thank you.
Would the last person to leave Pacific Quay please turn off the lights!
Posted by: tax payer, Glasgow on 9:39am Mon 14 Jan 08
Deeply depressing article. Deeply depressing state of affairs BBC Scotland Drama finds itself in. Even deeper state of affairs for technicians and potential Scottish based freelancers who see yet more work drift to far from home.
If this 'region' of Scotland is to have a platform from which to express its self culturally then we need someone on that platform who has the same commitment, desire and cultural understanding.
Anne Mensah is not that person.
Deeply depressing article. Deeply depressing state of affairs BBC Scotland Drama finds itself in. Even deeper state of affairs for technicians and potential Scottish based freelancers who see yet more work drift to far from home.
If this 'region' of Scotland is to have a platform from which to express its self culturally then we need someone on that platform who has the same commitment, desire and cultural understanding.
Anne Mensah is not that person.
Posted by: Disgruntled, Glasgow on 6:46pm Mon 14 Jan 08
Why are we surprised? Waterloo Road (series 2 & 3), commissioned by BBC Scotland, filmed in Manchester. (Anne Mensah was the Executive Producer of the first series, which was NOT a BBC Scotland commission, but when she took over in Glasgow, used money from the network to finance series 2 & 3, rather than financing returning series' from Scotland.) Last run of Sea of Souls, commissioned by BBC Scotland, filmed in London, Lake District (doubling for Argyll) with one day's filming in Glasgow, to name but two. Since 2005 - and the arrival of Ms Mensah - BBC Scotland has screened ONE network drama which was actually filmed in Scotland, The Reichenbach Falls.
The Broadcasting Commission and our first Minister will hopefully be asking the right questions of BBC Scotland, and the BBC should be be made to justify their decision. This is public money they are spending in Sweden, my money, YOUR money. There will be no benefit to the Scottish economy, and the Scottish people.
Why are we surprised? Waterloo Road (series 2 & 3), commissioned by BBC Scotland, filmed in Manchester. (Anne Mensah was the Executive Producer of the first series, which was NOT a BBC Scotland commission, but when she took over in Glasgow, used money from the network to finance series 2 & 3, rather than financing returning series' from Scotland.) Last run of Sea of Souls, commissioned by BBC Scotland, filmed in London, Lake District (doubling for Argyll) with one day's filming in Glasgow, to name but two. Since 2005 - and the arrival of Ms Mensah - BBC Scotland has screened ONE network drama which was actually filmed in Scotland, The Reichenbach Falls.
The Broadcasting Commission and our first Minister will hopefully be asking the right questions of BBC Scotland, and the BBC should be be made to justify their decision. This is public money they are spending in Sweden, my money, YOUR money. There will be no benefit to the Scottish economy, and the Scottish people.
News
INDEX
Comment | Read Comments (6)
