[C19fan]

Nothing can beat the Bondarchuk version greatly aided by the ability of the Soviet Union to utilize tens of thousands of Red Army soldiers as extras. I watched a 2007 mini-series produced by several European companies. The problem was they tried for a Pan-European cast so the dialogue in English was not too great. This screen play for this upcoming one was written by the excellent Andrew Davies is filming in Russia and the Baltic states. Hopefully the turmoil over there will not cause problems.

[GeronL]

I can only imagine how they will gay it up and add leftwing ideas to it.

Gillian Anderson might be good but do not let her try an American accent (they did that in a show called “Selfie” and yes it bombed badly, leave her Scottish alone.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Gillian Anderson was the person “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes was thinking of when he created the character of Cora, the American wife of the Lord of Grantham. Gillian declined, and the role went to Elizabeth McGovern instead. I bet you Gillian kicks herself a million times for having said “No”...

[Jim from C-Town]

There have been several versions. The Hepburn version is the only one I have seen. I understand that the BBC did another one in the seventies with Anthony Hopkins. and it is supposed to be great.

The idea of a mini-series is really the way to go. Weinstein for all his Leftist clap trap is a great film producer and I would be interested in seeing this.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Nothing can beat the Bondarchuk version***

I agree! The RUSSIAN CINEMA COUNCIL release is great! The cut for TV, faded color release from KULTUR is not, although the subtitles from KULTUR are sometimes better.

Forget the Henry Fonda version of the 1950s. It is like a “Cliff’s Notes” version. Example: The battle of Borodino is about 10 minutes in the Henry Fonda version. In the Bondarchuk version it is well over 45 minutes.

If you like the Bondarchuk version you will love his version of WATERLOO with Rod Steiger and Christopher Plumber!

Note to purists: If you look closely at the Battle of Borodino you will see a few soldiers in the background armed with bolt action Mosin Nagant rifles.

[katana]

being made by BBC Cymru Wales

Guess it will be "broadcast on all known frequencies, and in all known languages including Welsh". Not sure why that line from Red Dwarf makes me laugh but it always does.

[Jack Hammer]

The Bondarchuk battle scenes will never be surpassed, due to the availability of the Red Army.

Hopefully, this version will at least have top-flight actors and actresses and nice sets.

At any rate, it will almost certainly be worth a look, unless it’s an utter turkey.