For you lovers of classic children's adventure tales and stories of pirates here's a bit of news!
The British satelite TV company Sky1 released news this summer that they will producing an adaptation of Moonfleet!
"We are delighted to announce the commission of Moonfleet, a new family drama adapted in two parts from the classic John Meade Falkner story.
The programme was greenlit by Anne Mensah, Sky's Head of Drama, and will be produced by the award-winning Company Pictures. The scripts have been written by Ashley Pharoah (Life On Mars, Ashes to Ashes).
Filming will commence later this year on this much loved adventure set in the small Dorset village of Moonfleet. In the story young John Trenchard is haunted by dreams of the legendary Blackbeard and captivated by the whereabouts of his fabled diamond. Desperate to join the local band of smugglers, a turn of events unites him with Elzevir, the leader of the gang. Together they embark on a danger-filled adventure to locate Blackbeard's most treasured possession.
Mensah commented: “Moonfleet is one of those unusual classic titles which people have heard of but that hasn’t been done to death. This allows us to make it feel unique to Sky, to please people who grew up with the story but also to bring in a new generation of viewers who might not be so familiar with the text. And of course it is going to be a Sky drama so expect big action as well as smugglers, fights, ghosts, diamond hunting and a father/son story which should totally and unashamedly capture your heart. Huge thanks to Company Pictures and Ashley Pharoah for bringing such a fantastic story to life for us”.
Charlie Pattinson, Executive Producer, Company Pictures, said: “Moonfleet is a wonderful action adventure story – driven by smuggling raids, shipwrecks and a warm hearted love story. We are delighted to be working with Sky again and share their ambition to produce this well loved story on an epic scale.”
Further production and casting details will be unveiled in due course.
Moonfleet will be shown exclusively on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1 in 2013"
-Read Sky1 article CLASSIC DRAMA MOONFLEET REINVENTED FOR 2013
In the vein of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Masterman Ready and Robinson Crusoe, Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner is an adventure book that my mom read aloud to me and my siblings when we were younger. There's some heart pounding moments - one in particular where young John Trenchard hides in the crypt below the church and gets locked in there! - and a fun heartwarming story. I've always thought it would make a great film and am so pleased that someone is bringing this lesser known work to life! And if the two part film turns out anything like Sky1's Treasure Island (2012) then I know it's going to be great! :-)
Have you heard of Moonfleet before?
Do you have any favorite classic adventure stories you think might make good movies?
1 comment:
This sounds interesting! Moonfleet sounds like my cup of tea. Thanks also for your review of Treasure Island - now I really do want to see it!
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