Well, if he couldn't be a noir-ish private eye maybe he'll have better luck as a confused, time-traveling cop.
Irish actor Jason O'Mara has been cast in the lead role in the American remake of the British series Life On Mars. The show is being produced by David E. Kelley (L.A. Law, Picket Fences, Ally McBeal, etc). The show will start production in mid August and could be ready as a midseason replacement on ABC.
Most recently, O'Mara played private eye Philip Marlowe in the ABC pilot for the Marlowe detective series. It's really a shame that show didn't make it (and now we'll probably never see it, even as a midseason replacement, since O'Mara is on Life On Mars). The script was rather good and we need a real private eye series on TV again. An old-fashioned private eye series, not one a light one based on quirks or one based around a forensics team. Maybe another network can take the script and do something with it. I can picture the show on cable.
The Cheers episode Ken Levine's still writing in his head
Giveaway Tuesday: Fastlane - The Complete Series
Giveaway Monday: The X-Files: Revelations on DVD
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-29-2007 @ 6:21PM
Kurifurisan said...
He's also got the role of Albert Wesker in the upcoming Resident Evil film this year.
Reply
6-30-2007 @ 5:02AM
Joe said...
John Simm he ain't. Just suck it up and try to bear the English accents in the original if it doesn't cause you too much strain, because it's a fantastic show.
Reply
6-30-2007 @ 9:18AM
Scott said...
Joe, idk about you but i couldn't imagine Gene Hunt yelling "Freeze! You're surrounded by armed bastards!" in an american accent.
oh well, i guess we'll have to wait and see how this all turns out. i have a feeling it won't catch on but will be a decent show.
oh, and is this guy really as beefy as this post's picture suggests?
Reply
7-01-2007 @ 7:15PM
MrC said...
With David E Kelley (and the general brainstate of American TV) in change we can be assured of a few things:
1> It will "ham it up"
2> It will not follow the original past the opening scene (if that)
3> It may just suck
4> Regardless of suckitude it will be drawn out for several 22 episode seasons with no clear conclusion, unless it's canceled after 3 episodes.
About the only way I could see this working is if Kelley were to ape the Streets of San Francisco motif like the original LoM aped the Sweeney motif.
Reply
7-04-2007 @ 6:22PM
RT said...
First of all is he beefy? Damn straight he is and sexy as hell, just ask his wife actress Paige Turco she will be on the new series on ABC called “Big Shots” (shameless plug).
Second, also an excellent actor it took the producers quite awhile to the find the best actor to play the complex lead character of Sam Tyler. Mr. O’Mara fits the bill. Trust me!
Third, Mr. Kelley has a pretty good track record on successful shows and Emmys. Can anyone say “Boston Legal”? If the show doesn’t do well that’s the audience’s loss and the few of us who will watch is our gain (Season pass-TIVO here I come).
And finally a fourth comment, why is it that the BBC can’t produce more episodes of the show if it was so great-16 episodes? What happened did the writers have writers block or something or is the creativity just not where it should be. Did the Life on Mars-BBC television show not have ratings needed to sustain it? I would like to have those answers. All I can say is give the US version a chance!
PS: By the way if you want a British accent Jason can provide it, he has in the past on BBC television with “Berkeley Square” and “Monarch on the Glen”. He was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland.
Suckitude I love that word….. RT:)
Reply
7-20-2007 @ 3:34AM
Silvia said...
I'm sorry. but this guy is too hot to play Sam Tyler - yes, in this case John Simm is quite better, 'cause you're not distracted by his beauty, as Sam is an intense persona.
Gene Hunt is unreplaceable! And that british accent!UAU!
I'm afraid of the american version. And the 70's in California was too diferent from Manchester.
Reply