Posted on 04/28/2016 3:21:09 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
It was the film that traumatised a generation of children, with its much-loved rabbit characters slain on screen in graphic and memorable scenes. But the story of Watership Down is to be remade for a new era, as programme-makers promise to tone down its most brutal images. The BBC has teamed up with Netflix for one of the most expensive mini-series ever made for the small screen, and the first animated four-part drama of its kind. The new version stars the voices of James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult as Hazel and Fiver, Sir Ben Kingsley as General Woundwort and Star Wars star John Boyega as Bigwig.“While we won’t shy away from the darkness in the book, visually it won’t be as brutal and scarring.” Rory Aitken, executive producer The show’s executive producer told the Telegraph the 2017 version will not just tone down the levels of on-screen violence to make it more appropriate for children, but give a boost to its female characters.
Female rabbits including Clover, played by Gemma Arterton, Strawberry, played by Olivia Colman, and Hyzenthlay, played by Anne-Marie Duff, will get a dose of doe power, as it were, to allow them to display their own heroics alongside their male co-stars. The cast, announced today, is completed by Freddie Fox, who plays Captain Holly, and Miles Jupp as Blackberry. Watership Down, which will use computer animation to bring make the rabbits more life-like than ever, is made possible by a huge injection of cash from Netflix, which will broadcast the show worldwide after it is premiered on the BBC. Programme-makers have not confirmed their budget, but sources have indicated it is similar to that of The Night Manager, which cost £3m per hour and a total of around £18m.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I’ll never forgive the makers of The Plague Dogs cartoon of HAVING THE PLAGUE DOGS MURDERED! In complete violation of the book. I adore Richard Adams’ books, especially Traveller about Marsh Lee’s brave war horse.
When I was a school librarian Watership Down was one of the books I most recommended to students.
When I was a kid, the loss of Bambi’s mother had the same effect. That’s why I am the cynical sociopath you see before you today.
Your comment is a great example of why FreeRepublic needs a 'like' button.
Yeh. For me it was when they shot Old Yeller. Couldn't stop giggling for days...
What, no gay rabbits while they’re at it?
“Watership Down” is not a children’s book - never was a children’s book - High School maybe junior High but not young readers.
It’s not political correctness, it’s realizing that the old cartoon is pretty brutal. And nothing’s biting the dust, the old cartoon will still be out there. And the remake from the late 90s which also mellowed things out a bit.
My mother refused to let me see Bambi after my older and more relaxed brother went mad in the movie theater. To this day, I haven’t seen it. Dumbo and his mother is enough for me. Ugly, ugly.
You have a point. The original cartoon was not necessarily meant for children.
You nasty person, you, lol!
My sixth grade English teacher told me it was trash, along with Jonathan Livingsting Seagull.
Watership Down is not New Age type stuff. It is just a very well told story. That does not mean everyone likes it. Johnathan Livingston Seagull is pretty weird.
Toward the end, I was hoping the rabbits would all get slaughtered. By a harvesting machine ...
LOL. I disagree but like your way with words.
I treasured reading it in high school. I still remember most of it by heart. A lot of good v evil to take from it. A lot of not settling for what you are told by those in authority. Form strong trusting bonds with peers to overcome just about anything. Great book.
And it ran right into a bad parenting problem, especially when VCRs entered the home. Lazy parents looking for some “me time” would say “oh it’s about bunnies” put it in, plop the kid in front of the TV and go do whatever then the movie gets to the splashes of blood bunnies tearing each other apart part and there’s screams from the living room and nightmares for weeks. You can do the same story and not make it quite as scary, and maybe tone up the packaging so people don’t assume it’s sweat and innocent.
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