This technically isn't a film-related post -
but I know a few Ben fans sometimes stop by to read my ramblings so I'm
writing it anyway (it's my blog and I'll break the rules as and when I
see fit). Besides I'm just so excited there is finally some Mr W casting news, I've got to write about it somewhere.
So, he is to take the lead in a new HBO pilot by Alan "True Blood" Ball about a man who cleans ups crime scenes.
It is based on crime noir novel The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston (guess what I'll be shopping for today?) but for TV will be called All Signs of Death. Ben's character, the wonderfully named Webster Fillmore Goodhue, from what I can glean from the web is a bit of slacker. However, he finds that his job helps him deal with his own past but gets embroiled in a potentially life threatening mystery.
Filming starts in August so there will be no spotting
him around the streets and in the theatres of London for a while.
From what little I know it seems an intriguing choice of part,
something that potentially contrasts nicely with what he done in recent
years. He didn't have a massive role in Layer Cake but I loved the
cocky, Laahndan-lad he played (pictured above with Sienna Miller) and I'm hoping there is something very contemporary about Webster too (I'm assuming it has a contemporary setting).
It will also been interesting to see him in an American setting. Lets face it I'm really quite excited about this, the only rub, aside from him being taken away from these shores, is that it will probably be way into next year before it sees the light of day on UK TV.
Related stories:
Alan Ball's new HBO pilot casts first import: Ben Whishaw (Entertainment Weekly)
Alan Ball casts Ben Whishaw in new HBO pilot (New York magazine)
Alan Ball's new HBO pilot casts first import, Ben Whishaw (Pop News blog)
All Signs of Death (Wikipedia)
***Just found this story which adds a bit more detail to the plot. Webster it seems is an ex-teacher who get roped into cleaning up crime scenes for a local gang boss which adds an interesting new spin on it.
And there is an interesting debate going on here as to why so many Brits get cast in US TV/Film roles. Some amusing comments about colonialism and accents.
Book is on order***
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