'Safe House'

Spring 2015

TV series (4 episodes)

Wr. Michael Crompton

Dir. Marc Evans

Role: Robert (ex-policeman).

News

2015 Jan 7 ITV Drama trail:

Nov 3 ITV Border set report:

Eccleston quotes. On open water swimming

So I've really experienced it: it's exhilarating. It's not a great thing to think about, you know, but once I'm in there doing it and I do do it in a wet suit and in one sequence I've got a wet suit on and I'm fully clothed because the character panics. It's really exhilarating and a great thing to say for when I'm an old man I can say that I did it.

Trying the Coniston Chill Swim and the Great North Swim

I'd love to do all that. I've really enjoyed the swimming but I'm a big runner. I've not been able to run much here because of the work but I have done a couple of 10 milers and I'm aware of your great fell runner Joss Naylor. I've got the latest book on Joss - the beautiful hardback - very interested in that. I've done some beautiful runs while I've been here, I ran from Water Yeat from Coniston and back.

Local experience

Also the locals... you know? Cockneys and Londoners are very friendly but London itself is very impersonal and it's been very refreshing to have the warmth of the Lakelanders again. We've been made to feel very welcome. I think we've, you know, we've brought a very positive feel to Coniston. We've been made particularly welcome here.

Video 1 - extra Christopher Eccleston interview

Video 2 - full report, CE featured

Video 3 - extract with Andrew Benson

Oct 6 Official casting announcement from ITV:

Cast announced for atmospheric thriller Safe House to be produced by Eleventh Hour Films

Acclaimed British actor Christopher Eccleston (The Leftovers, Thor: The Dark World) will be joined by Marsha Thomason (White Collar) and Paterson Joseph (The Leftovers, Law & Order: UK) in a new four-part drama series Safe House from Eleventh Hour Films. Safe House is a tense thriller set in the beautiful wilderness of the Lake District.

The cast will also include Jason Merrells (Emmerdale, Waterloo Road), Nicola Stephenson (All At Sea, Holby City), and Peter Ferdinando (Doctor Who, A Field in England) and is set to commence filming today; Monday 6th October.

The 4-part drama tells the story of a married couple: Robert (Christopher Eccleston) a former detective and Katy (Marsha Thomason) a teacher who are asked by close friend and police officer Mark (Paterson Joseph), to turn their remote Guest House into a Safe House.

Their first 'guests' at the Safe House, are a family in fear of their lives after they are violently attacked by someone who claims to know them. For Robert protecting the family resurrects fears and anxieties bound up in a terrifying night eighteen months ago – where he was protecting a star witness who was about to testify against her gangland husband. Unexpectedly, he was shot, and she was killed. As a consequence of running the Safe House, Robert re-questions this incident and uncovers a web of lies.

Inspired by a real couple, Safe House is a distinctive character-driven drama created and written by Michael Crompton (Kidnap & Ransom, Carrie's War), and directed by award-winning Marc Evans (Hinterland, Collision) and produced by Andrew Benson (Strikeback, Mad Dogs). It is being developed by Eleventh Hour Films' Paula Cuddy, who is also an Executive Producer, alongside Jill Green.

Safe House is potentially a returnable series for ITV and Eleventh Hour Films and was commissioned by ITV's Director of Drama, Steve November and Controller of Drama, Victoria Fea.

"We're delighted to commission Safe House from Jill Green and Eleventh
Hour Films. It's a compelling four-part drama from Michael Crompton with great characters and genuine twists which keep you guessing right to the end."

Jill Green (Foyle's War, Collision, The American) said: "This brilliant idea for a psychological thriller has attracted a strong cast – and will keep viewers gripped."

Oct 2 Michael Crompton tweets about Christopher Eccleston's involvement in the project.

May 1 Original commisioning announcement from ITV:

ITV commissions atmospheric thriller Safe House from Eleventh Hour Films
ITV has commissioned a new four-part drama series Safe House from Eleventh Hour Films. Safe House is an atmospheric thriller set in the beautiful wilderness of the Lake District.
The drama tells the story of a married couple who turn their remote Guest House into a Safe House. Inspired by a true story, Safe House is a compelling character-driven drama created and written by Michael Crompton (Kidnap & Ransom, Carrie's War).
ITV's Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea have commissioned Safe House.
"We're delighted to commission Safe House from Jill Green and Eleventh Hour Films. It's a compelling four-part drama from Michael Crompton with great characters and genuine twists which keep you guessing right to the end."
Safe House is EHF's first production to be originated and developed by the indie.
Jill Green (Foyle's War, The American), Managing Director and Executive Producer at Eleventh Hour Films said: "Safe House is a quality drama with intelligently crafted characters delivering a complex and engaging story that will keep the viewer gripped."
Safe House has been developed by EHF's Head of Development Paula Cuddy (Strike Back, Wallander) and will be directed by award-winning director Marc Evans (Hinterland, Collision). The drama is a 4 x 60' commission and will begin filming this autumn.

Mar 18 Series green-lit (Michael Crompton's tweet). It's been two years of development.

'Legend'

2015

Film

Dir. & wr. Brian Helgeland

Role: Leonard Read (Inspector).

Film's twitter --- Facebook --- IMDb

News:

Jul 8 Lower res on-set pictures here, here and here.

Jun 12 Shooting starts. First official image of Tom Hardy released. Christopher Eccleston and other casting announced - Deadline / The Hollywood Reporter. 

The film is based on a book called 'The Profession of Violence' by John Pearson (who also penned 'The Gamblers' which was the basis for ITV's 'Lucan'). The previous attempt to put the Krays on the big screen, from 1990, was helmed by Peter Medak - it landed him the 'Let Him Have It' job. 'Legend' also features Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Tara Fitzgerald ('A Doll's House'), Chazz Palminteri, Taron Egerton.

May 18 Worldwide sales at Cannes - Deadline.

Apr 30 Cross Creek/Universal to distribute in North America - Variety.

2014 Feb 24 Working Title comes aboard as producers, Tom Hardy is in talks - Screen Daily.

The script takes in associates, rivals - such as notorious gangster Jack "the Hat" McVitie, who was murdered by Reginald in 1967 - politician Lord Boothby, and the brothers' nemesis in the police force, DS Leonard "Nipper" Read, who made it his life's ambition to put the Krays behind bars.

2013 Oct 12 "Helgeland talked about the project at a Writer's Guild of America West reception Oct. 10", having handed the script in two weeks ago; report in LA Wave.

'Fortitude'

29 Jan 2015
TV series (12 episodes)
Wr. Simon Donald
Dir. Sam Miller
Role: Charlie Stoddart (scientist).

Character profile at Pivot

TX:
January 29, double ep
9pm UK - Sky Atlantic
10pm e/p US - Pivot

Jan 15 - preview, eps. 1 & 2 + Q&A (Sofie Gråbøl, Simon Donald, Sam Miller) // BFI - info, tickets
Jan 8, 2015 - BAFTA Masterclass: Cinematography with John Conroy // BFI - info, tickets

Site at Sky Atlantic --- Pivot --- twitter --- youtube --- production diary --- cast & crew on twitter --- IMDb

Video:

Photo shoot BTS (Jan 19)
TV trailer 1 (Jan 16) / TV trailer 2 (Jan 16)
'You promised me, Charlie' clip (CE)(Jan 12)
'Take my gun' clip (Jan 12) / BTS #5: From Script to Screen (Jan 12)
BTS #4: Meet the Cast (Jan 9) / BTS #3: About the Show (Dec 19)

Teaser #2 (Oct 24) / BTS teaser #2: Filming in Iceland (Oct 24)

Reviews:

Previews
2015 Jan 20 The List - Henry Northmore - Fortitude 3/5
Dec 31 Vulture - 11 Shows to Look Forward to in January
Dec 9 John Plunkett, The Guardian - 'Twin Peaks in the arctic – unsettling and claustrophobic'
Neil Midgley, Forbes - Sofie Gråbøl Leads A Chilling, Gripping Winter's Tale

News:

Jan 20 Christopher Eccleston interview.

Dublin premiere:
RTE video interview (CE & Treadaway)

London premiere:
Video interviews
Sky: 'Survival' - Q&A highlights
London Live (direct) - AP all cast
Photos - twitter posts one - two

Jan 14 TX info - Sky to launch original drama Fortitude simultaneously across Europe.

2015 Jan 9 Details from Pivot's presentation for the TCA press tour: Variety, BroadcastingCable, TVEquals.

Nov 10 Simon Donald, showrunner of upcoming Sky Atlantic and Pivot crime drama 'Fortitude', and fellow executive producer Patrick Spence, tell C21 about the making of the show.

Oct 25 TVDags: Sweden's SVT confirms TX as one week after the UK premiere in January. Having seen a roughly cut episode 1 they think it's promising and definitely one of the big UK drama events of 2015.

Oct 24 New teaser trailer, bts snippet.
 
Sep 24 Teaser trailer, behind the scenes teaser released. First images at DigitalSpy.

Sep 11 Pre-sales (Sky Vision press release; also on Mipcom):

Sky Vision, the international distribution arm of BSkyB, has pre-sold the Sky Atlantic drama series 'Fortitude' to leading broadcasters, including; Canal + in France, TV2 Denmark, SVT in Sweden, YLE in Finland, Canada's Super Channel, NRK Norway, RUV Iceland, DBS Israel and OTE in Greece. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and PBS Distribution have picked up home entertainment rights.

Jul 4 It's a wrap.

Jun 10 Pre-sales going well, industry launch at Mipcom in October (Broadcast), UK TX late this year or possibly early in the new year at the same time as the American.

Apr 15 Pivot boards as the new coproducer. US TX is set for 2015. Sky Vision article, Pivot's blog.

• Icelandic TV news item (on location in Iceland, 0:48 & 18:40).

• Press release:

Get ready for Sky Atlantic's most ambitious drama commission to date.

A place like nowhere else, Fortitude is surrounded by the savage beauty of the Arctic landscape and is one of the safest towns on earth. There has never been a violent crime here - until now.

In such a close-knit community a murder touches everyone and the unsettling horror of this crime threatens the future of the town itself.

Sheriff Dan Anderssen is the local Head of Police and leads a world-class search and rescue team but now finds himself investigating the brutal and shocking murder of a British research scientist. He is forced to work alongside DCI Milton Caldwell, a British detective who's just flown in to Fortitude. As the search for the killer proceeds and the list of suspects grows, each cop finds compelling reasons to mistrust the other.

And as the endless summer nights give way once more to the Arctic darkness, this apparently idyllic community struggles to make sense of the murderous terror that's been let loose in its heart.

This ambitious 13-part [tba - ATBN] drama is written by Simon Donald (Low Winter Sun) and executive produced by Anne Mensah and Cameron Roach for Sky, Patrick Spence and Simon Donald for Fifty Fathoms and Tiger Aspect.

"The shackles are off," said Simon Donald. "Since Patrick and I pitched this project to Sky we've had nothing but full-throated, whole-hearted encouragement. Normally by now the brakes have been applied."

"I have long dreamed of an opportunity like this," added Patrick Spence, executive producer for Fifty Fathoms. "To make a show that is as ambitious as it is unique, and to do so with such unstinting and fearless backing. Simon and I are very lucky men indeed."

Fortitude will be shot on location later this year and will be coming soon to Sky Atlantic HD.

Jan 24 2014 Christopher Eccleston cast in new Sky Atlantic drama. 

Also key to the story are Charlie Stoddart (Eccleston), an English scientist who heads up the Arctic Biology department at the Fortitude Arctic Research Centre [...]

Filming starts in Iceland, with indoors scenes to be shot in London, expected finish in June.

• The series was originally announced as a Sky-Starz coproduction on the 8th of April, 2013. Starz dropped out in December, quoting scheduling disagreement, and Sky proceeded solo (f.ex. Deadline article).


Articles:

Jan 13 The Wall Street Journal - 'Fortitude' Unlocks Arctic Secrets
2015 Jan 9 RÚV - Austfjörðum púslað saman í einn bæ [preview in Iceland; IcelandReview]
Sep 2 WorldScreen - Q&A with Fortitude's Patrick Spence [on production]
Aug 21 WorldScreen - Q&A with Sky Vision's Jane Millichip [on marketing]

'The Leftovers'

29 Jun 2014

TV series (10 episodes)

Dir. Peter Berg

Wr. Tom Perrotta & Damon Lindelof

Role: Matt Jamison (reverend).  
character page / HBO

HBO site --- discussion blog --- Sky Atlantic site --- cast & crew on twitter --- IMDb

SERIES 2

News:

Dec Christopher Eccleston has confirmed his involvement in the second season of the series in an interview (Dec 5) for GoldDerby (article & audio), though he didn't have any information on exact creative plans. Deadline reports rumours that only part of the regular characters (including CE) are going to come back, and that the action will be shifted from Mapleton that's been the scene for most of the events in the first season (article, Dec 6).

Dec 1 IPA Satellite Awards have nominated Eccleston for best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Matt Jamison. The series itself and Ann Dowd were also honoured. Awards will be announced on the 15th of February, 2015.

Aug 13 The show has been renewed for a second season.

HBO has renewed the drama series 'The Leftovers' for a second season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Created by Damon Lindelof (Emmy® winner for 'Lost') and acclaimed novelist Tom Perrotta (Academy Award® nominee for 'Little Children'), the series is produced for HBO by White Rabbit in association with Warner Bros. Television. Lindelof serves as showrunner.

"We are thrilled to bring back 'The Leftovers' for a second season with the exceptional talents of Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta," says Lombardo. "It has been truly exciting to see the overwhelming response to their provocative and original storytelling. We look forward to continuing the journey as the show delves deeper into the lives of those who remain."

SERIES 1

TX:

UK - Sky Atlantic, Sep 16, 10pm.
Sky's Youtube playlist - photo gallery

US
Jun 18 - 'Making The Leftovers' (29 min) - watch (youtube alt) - programme info
'About The Leftovers' (5 min) available on demand (see HBO site)
June 19 - Advance screening of 'The Leftovers' première - free passes for select theatres - report below 

Jun 29 HBO (US, Canada), Jun 30 (world)
Episode 1: Pilot (72 min) - watch. Jul 6 - Ep. 2: Penguin One, Us Zero (57 min) Jul 13 - Ep. 3: Two Boats and a Helicopter Jul 20 - Ep. 4: B.J. and the A.C. Jul 27 - Ep. 5: Gladys Aug 3 - Ep. 6: Guest Aug 10 - Ep. 7: Solace for Tired Feet Aug 17 - Ep. 8: Cairo Aug 24 - Ep. 9: The Garveys at Their Best Sep 7 - Ep. 10: The Prodigal Son Returns

Scroll down for news

Episode synopses at the bottom of the page

Reviews [CE related; spoilers for eps. 1-3, 5] + images
In lieu of an in-house review >

Video:
 

CE interview, Sky Atlantic [youtube alt]

In the Weeks Ahead preview #2 [Jun 13] - Episode 4 preview [Jun 14]

Clip from Episode 5 / Episode 3 preview (alt on the HBO site)

 

Clip #1 from Episode 3 - Clip #2 - Clip #3 

Titles - alt w/ different sound from HBO

In the Weeks Ahead preview [Jun 29] - Episode 2 preview [Jun 30]

'Sermon' trailer / Trailer #2 (old link)

 

Teaser for 'Making The Leftovers' [Jun 1] / Promo [Jun 12]

Trailer #1 [Apr 27] /  'Awake' trailer [May 27] / 'Gone' trailer [May 27] / 'Loss' trailer [Jun 12]

'Five Stages' trailer / Teaser #2

   

Teaser #1 / HBO Spring Preview / HBO 2013 Yearender

  Crew interviews:
Oct 29 Damon Lindelof on Season 2, TVLine
Jul 18 Interview with Composer Max Richter, Watching The Leftovers
Jul 7 Tom Perrotta on 7 Ways The Leftovers Has Diverged From the Novel, Vulture
Jul 6 'Leftovers' Creator Tom Perrotta On How He and Damon Lindelof Made His Book Darker for HBO, Indiewire
Jun 27 'The Leftovers' Won't Be Like Lost - It'll Have an Ending, Wired.
Jun 26 'The Leftovers' Creators Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta on Their Dark, Mysterious HBO Series, HitFix.
Jun 24 From 'Lost' to The Rapture: Creators Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta on HBO's 'The Leftovers', The Daily Beast. 

News:

Jun 23 Series' red carpet première in NYC. 

• CE video interviews from the launch [transcripts]

º for In The Lab [youtube] [screencaps]

º for MTV (also on 'Heroes Reborn', Malekith)

º for Access (all cast)

º from official site (all cast)

 
• Short interview at NY Daily News:

Former 'Doctor Who' star Christopher Eccleston has two reasons to be excited about Sunday: 'The Leftovers' premieres on HBO and, of course, it's the Lord's day. The 50-year-old Brit plays a priest in the pay cable channel's supernatural thriller, and this isn't the first time he's played a holy man. 

"It was a film called 'Anchoress,' 20 years ago," he recounted. "It was shot in black and white in Belgium. It was not a popcorn film. I think that's the only other time I've played a man of the cloth." 

Eccleston confessed that he isn't sure if this Rapture-inspired show will be a lightning rod for controversy among religious people.  

"That's a very big question and not one I've troubled myself with too much," he told us. "Hopefully it's going to promote debate of a good nature between religious groups."

Eccleston declined to say whether he personally is a man of faith.  

"I'm going to take the Fifth on that, as I'm playing this character," he diplomatically answered. 

But he did say the weather in Nyack, N.Y., was ungodly while 'The Leftovers' filmed there over the winter. Eccleston joked that the "polar bears were wearing jackets."

• From the official blog:

Christopher Eccleston, who portrays Reverend Matt Jamison, described his character as "half ape, half angel," and added: "He cares and believes that he has the answer."
[Would you want to be taken?] Eccleston offered: "I wouldn't want to leave, and I wouldn't want to be left. I want to live."

• @TheLeftoversHBO:

"I have no idea how I'd feel if I were a Leftover. Who can predict?" -Christopher Eccleston pic.twitter.com/pkalL1l0l3

• Indiewire report:

Christopher Eccleston, who plays a rapture denier on "The Leftovers" (and who is no stranger to sci-fi himself, having starred in first season of the continuation of "Doctor Who" and in NBC's "Heroes"), thinks that this show is just not going to go there.

"We're not doing a series about sci-fi, that's not what this is about," he said. "This is about human beings and emotion and relationships and identity. So I would be very disappointed if this was tied up in a bow when it end, whenever it ends. I think the only way to be with something like this is ambiguous."

• MTV jokey interviews
• Report from public

Source (1),  source (2), source (3, 4). More images

Jun 20 Advance screening of Episode 1. Chiclit reports:

Per instructions no spoilers, but I can say that if you've read the book – and have seen the trailers – very little in the pilot will shock you. There are some moments but no huge surprises. A small surprise cameo at Holy Wayne's place. Eccleston, as expected from comments IS in the pilot but not extensively. 

My friend pronounced it very much like early 'Lost', I also saw lighting and close up shots that reminded me of FNL, Berg definitely has a style. 

It's slightly over an hour. No previews or other video presentations. Mixed reviews after by people walking out – not sure they had known what they were seeing though, scattering of applause. 

I am more favorably disposed toward Theroux now, Margaret Qualley as the daughter was excellent, didn't really feel the like son made an impression. All in all it was a pilot – set the scene.

Overall I liked it. The show is well cast, and well produced. Will just have to see if it catches fire with critics and people. This show also might do very well on a binge watch, too, where you could tie a few episodes together.

   
Press quotes: Jun 16 Canada.com article. Jun 17 My San Antonio article.    

Synopses for the first five episodes [SpoilerTV].  

Jun 1 Another picture of CE on set - posted by Amy Brenneman    

May 30 Feature - Damon Lindelof Promises You His New Show Won't End Like 'Lost', The New York Times.   

May 28 Picture of CE on set - posted by Liv Tyler.    

May 22 Article - Lost without a prayer, The New York Times.    

Apr 24 Amy Brenneman's blog entry.    

Apr 11 Two week break from filming (after the 6th episode finishes lensing) announced, no change to June 15 TX (Deadline). ETA: TX moved. ETA2: Shooting resumed May 2. ETA3: Concluded July 3.

Apr 3 TX announced, teaser coming Apr 6.   

Feb 5 Article from Hollywood Reporter on the pilot: "It's both complex and ambitious. Also: weird and riveting. The Leftovers is a series that may take another two or three episodes to wrap one's head around, but it's buzzing like mad and should continue to." Sky Atlantic could option for the series in the UK (Broadcast).

2014 Jan 8 Damon Lindelof on the series - Entertainment Weekly.    

Dec 16 HBO 2013 Yearender [youtube] - incl. teaser for Leftovers. Article, CinemaBlend.    

Sep 16 'The Leftovers' gets 10-episode series order (Deadline).

The pilot was filmed Jun 26-Jul 24, NY, USA. Examples of background artists' casting and set report.

Jun 10 Christopher Eccleston cast in the pilot: The Hollywood Reporter.

Apr 8 Peter Berg coming on board: Collider off Production Weekly.

2013 Feb 8 Pilot is ordered: Vulture - HBO Is Moving Forward With Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta's Drama The Leftovers

[...] the pay cable network is moving forward with production of a pilot for the Damon Lindelof–Tom Perrotta drama, barely six months after first putting the project in development. 

2012 Jun 28 

• Damon Lindelof expounds on the project in an interview with Vulture

• Project in active development: Deadline - Damon Lindelof Teams With Author Tom Perrotta For 'The Leftovers' Series At HBO:

HBO acquired rights to The Leftovers for series development with Perrotta attached as writer/executive producer and Yerza and Berger as executive producers in August 2011, shortly before the book came out. Lindelof read the novel that fall and word is he immediately fell in love with it. He tracked the rights down to HBO, which is a network he, like many writers, had been looking to work at. Once Lindelof's deal at ABC Studios expired, he met with Perrotta. The two hit it off and began discussing what a potential Leftovers series would look like.

2011 Aug 9 TV plans announced before the book hit the shelves: Variety - HBO teaming with author Tom Perrotta (also LA Times)  

"The book, which Stephen King has dubbed "the best Twilight Zone episode you never saw," takes place three years after a Rapture-like global event causes millions of people to simply disappear from the face of the Earth." (Vulture)   
It is to be further developed by Perrotta and Lindelof.
 

NY Times review of the book (incl. podcast interview with Perrotta and a clip from the audiobook)
 

The author's site; read an extract from the book (pdf).

Episode synopses

Episode 1: Pilot
An adaptation of Tom Perrotta's novel about life in a small town after many of its residents vanished in a Rapture-like event begins with the upcoming third anniversary of the "Departure" and a police chief's personal and professional struggles. [TVGuide]

Three years after millions of people – some 2% of the world's population – vanished into thin air, residents of Mapleton, NY weigh the pros and cons of a "Heroes Day" tribute to the local "Departed." Attempting to maintain a sense of normalcy in his strained community, police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) faces additional challenges at home with his daughter, Jill (Margaret Qualley), who's lost in a cloud of apathy with her friend Aimee (Emily Meade), and son, Tom (Chris Zylka), who has gravitated to a cult led by the charismatic Holy Wayne (Paterson Joseph). Also of concern is a silent, white-clad group of chain-smoking men and women called the Guilty Remnant, who team up in pairs to stake out people and places around town. As tension in Mapleton escalates, the lives of Laurie (Amy Brenneman), an unexpected member of the Guilty Remnant, and Meg (Liv Tyler), a recently engaged young woman, converge.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta; directed by Peter Berg.

Episode 2: Penguin One, Us Zero
Kevin sees a therapist after a series of unsettling encounters; Meg makes a crucial decision about her future; Tom and Christine find themselves in a dicey situation; Jill and Aimee take an interest in Carrie Coons' comings and goings. [TVGuide]

In the wake of a series of disturbing encounters, Kevin pays a visit to a therapist. Tom finds himself in a precarious situation with Christine (Annie Q), a favorite of Wayne's. A frustrated Meg is asked to part with pieces of her past. Jill and Aimee tail Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), who became a local celebrity when her entire family disappeared in the Departure.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Kath Lingenfelter; directed by Peter Berg.

Episode 3: Two Boats and a Helicopter
Undaunted by death threats and diminishing attendance, Reverend Jamison maintains that not all the Departed should be considered heroes, but he's shaken by news that he may lose the church to foreclosure, a startling development that forces him to go to extremes to find the money to save it. [TVGuide]

In the face of dwindling church attendance and threats on his life, Reverend Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston) continues to preach his gospel: that many who disappeared in the Departure were sinners and not saints. Matt's campaign is detoured when he learns he may lose the church to foreclosure, forcing him to launch a desperate, last-minute plan to come up with the cash to keep it.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Jacqueline Hoyt; directed by Keith Gordon.

Episode 4: B.J. and the A.C.
A holiday display goes wanting, sending Kevin scurrying to find out who is responsible. Tom and Christine run into trouble at a hospital and on the road. Kevin retrieves a surprise detainee from a neighboring police station, and receives unexpected visitors at home. The Guilty Remnant put its stamp on the holiday season.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Elizabeth Peterson; directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.

Episode 5: Gladys
Laurie's resolve is put to the test in the wake of a brutal hate crime. After his latest initiatives to maintain the peace in Mapleton fall short, Kevin turns down an outside offer to rid the town of its problems. Matt brings his pulpit to the street. Meg takes on a new role.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta; directed by Mimi Leder.

Source, more TX info [pdf]

 

Episode 6: Guest

Nora (Carrie Coon) takes care of unfinished business in Mapleton before heading to New York for the Second Annual DROP (Departure Related Occupations and Practices) conference. Upset that her ID has been pinched, she scours the convention for her imposter while wearing a "Guest" badge, and ends up getting detoured by an amorous salesman, a bestselling author and a rogue attendee.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Kath Lingenfelter; directed by Carl Franklin.

Episode 7: Solace for Tired Feet

After learning his father has escaped the psychiatric hospital, Kevin (Justin Theroux) orders an APB to track him down. Jill (Margaret Qualley) attempts to break an endurance record. Holed up in Indiana, a disillusioned Tom (Chris Zylka) makes an unsettling discovery.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Jacqueline Hoyt; directed by Mimi Leder.

Episode 8: Cairo

Kevin fears he's losing touch with reality after inexplicably finding himself in a difficult situation involving Patti Levin (Ann Dowd), a leader of the Guilty Remnant. Meg (Liv Tyler) loses control during another encounter with Matt (Christopher Eccleston); Jill confronts Aimee (Emily Meade) about her relationship with Kevin; Nora stands up to Laurie (Amy Brenneman), and finds her privacy invaded.

Written by Curtis Gwinn & Carlito Rodriguez; directed by Michelle MacLaren.

Episode 9: The Garveys at Their Best

Kevin tries to suppress his bad habits while tracking down a marauding deer in Mapleton. Laurie receives not-unexpected news amidst a rising sense of foreboding. Tom connects with his past, against his better judgment. Nora has a job interview; Kevin Senior (Scott Glenn) receives an honor.

Written by Kath Lingenfelter & Damon Lindelof; directed by Dan Sackheim.

Source, more TX info [pdf]

Episode 10: The Prodigal Son Returns

An unexpected ally helps Kevin (Justin Theroux) get out of a jam near the town of Cairo. Meanwhile, an elaborate Memorial Day initiative by the Guilty Remnant plunges Mapleton into chaos. Holy Wayne (Paterson Joseph) grants a final wish; Tom (Chris Zylka) copes with his new reality; Nora (Carrie Coon) makes a life-changing decision.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta; directed by Mimi Leder.

Source, more TX info [pdf]

'Lucan'

11 Dec 2013

TV film (2 parts)

Dir. Adrian Shergold

Wr. Jeff Pope

Role: John Aspinall.

DVD:  
Amazon UK
 

Episode 1 - 11 Dec - programme info - 3.9m/18.8% at 9pm, + 205k/1.4% on ITV+1
Episode 2 - 18 Dec - programme info - 2.97m/13.5%

Press pack (pdf; source) - IMDb

 

Trailer:

Reviews:

The Guardian [video] - The Guardian ("Mad-eyed Christopher Eccleston had his work cut out as a brilliantly cocksure John Aspinall [...]") - The Independent ("The show's real villain, however, was the machiavellian Aspinall, played by Christopher Eccleston with serpentine grace (and the odd accent issue).") - The Telegraph comment ("[...] John Aspinall, as whom Christopher Eccleston is unsuitably cast, speaks in an uncertain accent and without the original's merriment.") - The Telegraph review ("Christopher Eccleston as Aspers conveyed his hawkish demeanour rather awkwardly and his clipped accent felt over-rehearsed.") - Metro - The Scotsman ("[...] Christopher Eccleston is stealing the show as "Aspers". What an astonishing performance this is. All actors can do voices but for some reason I didn't expect Eccleston's posh-sinister to sound quite as posh and quite as sinister.") - Express ("Aspinall was thoroughly unlikeable too but again portrayed in a pitch perfect performance, this time from Christopher Eccleston.") - The Arts Desk ("As Aspinall, Christopher Eccleston is seriously intimidating [...]")

News:

Vine video message from CE.

Behind the scenes photo. Promo images here.  

Dec 7 CE interview - Nottingham Post.

Dec 1 Jeff Pope interview for The Independent.  

Nov 26 Images at CultBox.  

Interview from the press pack:

CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON IS JOHN ASPINALL

Fortunes were lost at the London gaming tables run by John Aspinall.

"It's very good for business to have a Lord in your casino, isn't it? It's reflective glory. Gets the punters in," explains Christopher Eccleston. "I think that's the first reason John Aspinall associated himself with him. Lucan could bring him business. Lucan could bring him money. And Lucan could give him money because he was an obsessive gambler. Aspinall was from a middle class background and the people he was running with were aristocrats. So he attached himself to them. I think it's quite possible that he resented them for their perceived superiority. And so he ripped them off and beat them at their own game. It could be seen as an act of class revenge." 

Aspinall known as "Aspers" to his friends was a gaming club host and zoo owner who ran The Clermont Club in London's Mayfair. He attracted high society to his tables and redistributed their wealth, mostly to himself, via a card game called Chemin De Fer, known as Chemmy. One gambler is said to have lost the equivalent of almost £4 million in today's terms in one visit. Aspers befriended many of those he was taking money from including professional gambler Lucan and they, in turn, became addicted to the club. 

"What was he up to? He's impossible to grasp. He was drenched in ambiguity," says Christopher. "Aspinall had a tremendous ego and a tremendous urge for power and control. He was out for himself. And people like that are impossible to pin down. He appeared to be very much at the centre of things but he was always a step outside, looking on. He was a puppet master, pulling all the strings and then cashing up at the end of the night." 

Lord Lucan sought out the enclosed and obsessive Mayfair gambling world as a refuge from real life and his increasing debts. Christopher learned about the game of Chemmy as part of his research for the role of Aspinall. 

"It was madness. Nine packs of cards go into the hat and there is no skill involved. It is entirely based on luck. So it is an addiction to chance. Gambling itself, as we know, is also addictive, along with the adrenaline. Plus the machismo of saying, 'I'm not scared of losing this money.' This is a very masculine boys' club environment. It seems as if they'd gone straight from public school into an extension of that. Which is what Aspinall cleverly provided. Lucan went to the club for lunch and for dinner and could, perhaps, hide there from who he really was." 

As the drama shows, Aspinall encouraged Lucan in his bid to win custody of his children from his wife Veronica, the Countess of Lucan (Catherine McCormack). With evidence the gaming club host was also a central figure in helping the peer vanish after Lucan had mistakenly murdered nanny Sandra Rivett (Leanne Best) and then tried to kill Veronica. 

"Aspinall has a very perverse kind of morality. He exhorts the people in Lucan's circle to protect Lucan from the police and he couches that in terms of loyalty, friendship and the country going to the dogs. But playing him, you ask yourself whether there could have been another agenda here. What has Aspinall done to need control of these men?" 

How much did Christopher know about the Lucan story before this production? 

"I was 10 in 1974 when he disappeared. I was familiar with the phrase 'Lord Lucan' as it was always applied to somebody who had gone missing. My dad would say, 'Where have you been Lord Lucan?' But aside from knowing that he was possibly on the run, that was it. I knew very little about the detail of the case. When I first heard about this I was a little bit sceptical. Until I read Jeff Pope's script, which has a real moral centre. You walk a very fine moral line in making entertainment out of this kind of tragedy. But the primary reason for him writing the script was to highlight the death of Sandra Rivett and the fact that was never given due prominence by the press. The drama also focuses on the tragedy of Veronica who was made a social pariah. So the moral centre of this, for me, is those two women. And I think Jeff has honoured that. 

"A very important element of the drama is the characterisation of Sandra, who was the victim, and the secondary victim, who was Veronica. She stepped outside that circle and said to Lucan, 'You are gambling all our money away. We need to feed the children.' And was rounded on by men and women alike. I'm sure she did have her problems but that says a great deal more about them rather than her. Jeff is writing about the grey areas of human existence. He finds redeeming qualities in Lucan. It's clear that he loved his children deeply. But he also behaved abominably towards his wife. Rory Kinnear gives you a three dimensional characterisation in his portrayal of Lucan. 

"There is a tragic quality to Lucan who was a product of his time. He was shaped by those chauvinistic, misogynistic views which surrounded him and had probably been reinforced in him through his schooling. Jeff doesn't idealise Veronica, even though she is clearly a victim. He also attempts to understand Aspinall. It's all in the quality of the writing. I think it's predominantly an examination of misogyny at the heart of the, then, British establishment." 

Aspinall used the money he made to fund his own sometimes eccentric lifestyle. 

"He was buying wild animals and indulging his passion for them. It seems to me that his emotional life was possibly reserved for animals, rather than human beings. I don't think he ever felt cowed by any human being. So he sought it out with silverback gorillas and tigers. I wonder whether anything that was genuine about him was channelled entirely into animals? In other words, he could connect and love animals in a way that he could not human beings. He was an extraordinary self creation and very astute about business. I think as he began to run the casinos he very cleverly realised that his interest in animals made him a character. So he made that kind of thing more pronounced and had tiger cubs roaming around. 

"Aspinall created a persona which was animal loving, right wing raconteur. He claimed to have some very extreme views. We have quotes from interviews he gave where he says some very harsh things. He spoke about genetic and racial superiority. Horrendous views. When you listen to him in interviews you think he's mad or a buffoon. I've met people who met him who said he was very powerful and charismatic. I'm not sure I would feel that. But the curious thing is whether he actually believed in those views or whether it was a sales pitch to the aristocracy? 

"The interesting thing about playing him is I'm not sure that he believed any of those things. I feel they were useful in creating a character. His job was to attract people to his casino. So rather than being a faceless casino owner he was a character." 

How did Christopher fare filming with animals, including having lunch with a chimp at the table and another with a monkey on his shoulder? 

"I was very comfortable with the animals. It added a new dimension of unpredictability to the scenes we were playing. But fortunately they all behaved." 

The drama is inspired by and based on The Gamblers, a book written by John Pearson who met and interviewed those closely connected to Lucan before his disappearance. 

Fans of the Salford born actor know what a wide range of roles he can portray. Was going "posh" as Aspinall part of the appeal of playing this character? 

"Yes it was. But I've used the accent a number of times, including in Elizabeth and on stage. So I can't say the accent was the primary attraction. But certainly having done things like Our Friends In The North, to suddenly be at the centre of British aristocracy was interesting for me." 

He continues: "It was a lot of not particularly emotionally developed people in a bubble. A world of privilege and exclusivity. And it seems slightly mad. It's excessive and without any redeeming features from what I can see. People do that, don't they? People create little societies within society to keep society at bay. There is a fascination about this story now, even some 40 years later. It says a lot about how class is so deeply entrenched in us that we're interested in this. Despite ourselves we are fascinated by this world and the people within it." 

Christopher's screen credits include: The Shadow Line; Thor: The Dark World; Lennon Naked; The Second Coming; Doctor Who; Cracker; Accused; Elizabeth; Our Friends In The North.

Nov 19 Review from CrimeTimePreview.  

Jul 31 Christopher Eccleston cast, reuniting him with Shergold, who also directed 'The Second Coming'. ITV's press release:

TV today announced commission of a two-part drama, Lucan, based on the life of flamboyant aristocrat, Lord Lucan, and written by award-winning writer Jeff Pope.

Rory Kinnear (Southcliffe, Loving Miss Hatto, Skyfall) will play Lucan whilst Christopher Eccleston (Song for Marion, Blackout, The Shadow Line) takes the role of John Aspinall. Acclaimed actor Michael Gambon will also appear in the drama.

The drama, produced by ITV Studios/GroupM Entertainment and from the department headed by Creative Director and Executive Producer for ITV Studios Francis Hopkinson (Wallander, DCI Banks, Married, Single, Other), will tell the story of Lucan's exploits as a member of the infamous Clermont set and will focus on his marriage collapse to Veronica, the Countess of Lucan.  [...]

Source

[...]  The drama is inspired by and based upon the book, The Gamblers, written by author John Pearson who conducted exhaustive interviews with those most closely connected to Lucan at the time of Sandra’s murder. Pearson gained unprecedented access to Lucan's friends and acquaintances from the Clermont Club who helped him piece together the Earl’s movements on the evening of 7 November. Once the dreadful murder had taken place they shed light on how Lucan escaped the police search, and ultimately his fate.

Lucan will be produced by Chris Clough (Dates, Strike Back, Skins) and executive produced by Francis Hopkinson, Jeff Pope and Quentin Curtis. The drama will be directed by Adrian Shergold (Mad Dogs, Pierrepoint, Dirty Filthy Love). Lucan is an ITV Studios/GroupM Entertainment co-production with Executive Producers for GroupM Entertainment being Richard Foster and Tony Moulsdale.

ITV Media page for 'Lucan'.

Other articles:

The Independent - Lord Lucan mystery to be 'solved' in ITV drama starring Rory Kinnear

Anglophenia - Christopher Eccleston And Rory Kinnear Star In Lord Lucan Drama

Early news from Broadcast - Jeff Pope to make Lord Lucan biopic for ITVS

("ITV previously aired The Trial Of Lord Lucan in 1994. The 90-minute single starred English Patient actor Julian Wadham as Lucan.")

Also:

Aspinall obits from The Telegraph and The Guardian