Henry VIII: Rockstar?

[lareinenoire]

(Apparently I'm spamming today)

I just found out -- literally about five minutes ago -- that Showtime is doing a series based on Henry VIII.

Judging from the previews it could be good, or it could be absolutely utterly horrendous. The goal for the series, it appears, is to portray a younger and more approachable Henry. Which I can certainly understand and find interesting. That being said, the screenwriter is the same man who wrote Elizabeth, which automatically puts me on my guard. Decent enough film, absolutely butchered the history.

And, of course, this being Showtime, lots of violence and general debauchery à la Rome. Not a bad thing, just an observation.

However, the series does have Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Henry), Sam Neill (Wolsey), and Jeremy Northam (Thomas More). Plus an unknown playing Anne Boleyn who actually looks like she can pull it off (though in my mind she will need to compete with Genevieve Bujold in Anne of the Thousand Days, very difficult to do).

Apparently the Tudors are popular these days. Not surprising, given the Philippa Gregory juggernaut. Now, if only someone would wander back a few decades so they could add a chapter to my dissertation...

ETA (14:20): A number of comments on YouTube focus on how much JRM does not look like Henry VIII, as in he doesn't have red hair. I'm actually not bothered by this, since Richard Burton didn't have red hair either and he still did a very good job playing Henry VIII. I suppose it will all depend on the performance.

And is it proof of my fount of useless knowledge that I recognised every single piece of music used in the Showtime trailer?

Comments

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

Not keen. I'm recalling the dreadful ITV 'Enry the Eightff, which starred Ray Winstone (someone suggested that Henry's accent was most likely cockney, a frightful concept the idiot screenwriter took and ran with most 'orribly), a couple of years ago, and was so full of howlers (or 'owlers), I ended up watching with a notepad to get them all.

Sam Neill as Wolsey sounds promising, though, cos Sam is generally good at everything. I don't get JRM at all in that part, I've never got over him as Steerpike, quite honestly, and don't really wish to.

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Cockney Henry? That does sound very odd.

I'll admit to curiosity, at least partly of the morbid variety. And both Sam and Jeremy sound very promising to me, especially based on what little we get to see of them in the trailers.

As for JRM, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he does have a very particular style that I don't think really lends itself to historical films. Did you like him as Steerpike, out of curiosity? I rather did, but I didn't get the chance to read the books until after I'd seen the series. There was something about the way he was never still, in contrast to how visually static the other characters were, that appealed to me.

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

I adored him. There was a scene with Fuschia, after he'd been scarred that was unbearable intensity.

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Oh God, I remember that scene. The chemistry between him and Fuchsia was just palpable and so so heartbreaking. I actually just rewatched Gormenghast back in December and very nearly cried during that scene.

In fact, I also really enjoyed what they did with Fuchsia. Well, I enjoyed the entire series, period.

And I think he's one of the main reasons I might watch the Tudors series, just because I'm curious as to what he'd do with Henry VIII. It could be very very interesting.

*needs more historically appropriate icon*

[tempestsarekind.livejournal.com]

But I guess I'll just have to make do...

I too share the worry about the Elizabeth screenwriter being involved in this project. Elizabeth was not only historically inaccurate, but also made no sense--I've seen it three or four times, and I still have no idea what he was trying to do with Robert "I love you so much I had to plot against you" Dudley. (And I assume for the sequel, they're just going to pretend he didn't exist?) Plus that whole "look! JRM played Elvis *and* Henry! they're totally the same!" opening on the extended trailer kind of got on my nerves.

But there is a part of me that is looking forward to the Showtime series, because I am a sucker for costume drama. Even if I am slightly apprehensive about Jeremy Northam, just because I've never really wanted to have *those* kinds of thoughts about Thomas More. :)

Re: *needs more historically appropriate icon*

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Plus that whole "look! JRM played Elvis *and* Henry! they're totally the same!" opening on the extended trailer kind of got on my nerves.

That really worried me, but the rest of the trailer looked more promising. And when did JRM play Elvis?

Even if I am slightly apprehensive about Jeremy Northam, just because I've never really wanted to have *those* kinds of thoughts about Thomas More. :)

::snicker:: Yes, really. That is a dangerous road.

Re: *needs more historically appropriate icon*

[tempestsarekind.livejournal.com]

JRM played Elvis in a TV movie (CBS, maybe?) in 2005. I think that's why the opening annoyed rather than worried me--I just assumed that they only did it to capitalize on their leading man, who was probably more famous for being Elvis, to the larger American audience Showtime is trying to draw, than anything else.

Now I want to watch something with Jeremy Northam in it...

Re: *needs more historically appropriate icon*

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Wow. I had absolutely no idea -- not that I've got any interest in Elvis, but I'm a fan of JRM.

And sadly that does sound likely, that they were using their leading man to draw in more mainstream audiences. Surely they don't need to do that; HBO's Rome did fairly well, from what little I know, and this seems like it'll be in a similar vein. Another reason why I'm curious because I've really enjoyed Rome. I just wish the DVDs were cheaper!

Although this does mean there will be more early HVIII icons running about. ;) I have an Anne Boleyn one I've wanted to put up for ages, but I don't have the space in my free account. Eh bien. I should be spending my time on more useful things anyway...

::grin:: Did you ever see The Winslow Boy? He plays the sexiest lawyer I'd ever seen -- until I met my boyfriend.

Re: *needs more historically appropriate icon*

[tempestsarekind.livejournal.com]

Ooh, sounds like I need to add The Winslow Boy to my list. :)

I think marketing people often underestimate their audiences... and actually, I can't imagine anyone tuning in to see The Tudors *just* because they liked the Elvis movie, though of course people could be interested in both.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Aargh! Why does it have to be the Tudor monarchs _again_? Please, TV commisioners, find another lot for the costume drama department to feed upon. On the other hand, it does have Jeremy Northam (who I saw on stage in Old Times in a production a small proportion of the audience may have gone to see for the play, but the majority for one or more of Northam, Helen McCrory, and Gina McKee).

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

::grin:: I'm waiting for *someone* to tackle the Wars of the Roses, but nobody ever will because it's far too complicated and not mainstream-audience friendly at all. Sigh. I live in hope.

[rosamund.livejournal.com]

Write the screenplay yourself. Dare you! ::ducks::

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Except that I don't think I could make the Wars of the Roses any *less* confusing to someone that isn't me. ;) I'd just paint all the characters in shades of grey and then *everyone* would be confused.