I have this wild dream of a Yes Minister /Prime Minister Movie.
I have wondered who could play the roles.
I have come up with Stephen Fry as Humphrey, Hugh Laurie as Hacker. I am at a loss as to who to cast as Bernard. Hugh Grant? COuld Derek Fowldes Reprise his role?
Could it even be done?
Any thoughts?
Interesting idea. When do you picture it being set: modern day or back in the 1980's? I would like the 1980's. I have a hard time picturing it in today's political setting.
Are you going to pull those pistols or whistle "Dixie"?
Unfortunately, our Hollywood liberals lack both the intelligence and wit to write effective political satire like Yes, Minister/Prime Minister. Instead we get leftist claptrap like Saturday Night Live sketches, The Daily Show, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher.
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Sorry, I have a vendetta against perfectly good books/TV shows being turned into movies. And as much as I love Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (the less said about Hugh Grant the better) I really think that one of the many reasons why it worked was because of the original cast. Besides, a movie would have to get American backing, and the thought of any American company getting their hands on this infuriates me - apologies to any American fans here on the boards, but one of the main criteria for a show to be turned into a movie is the addition of a 'gorgeous actress'. Red Dwarf is going through the same problem at the moment. Can you imagine- a love interest for Humphrey? An American remake of Yes Minister was discussed with the writers- the Americans wanted the addition of either 'a kid or a dog'. Luckily, they refused, saying 'life is too short'.
Plus, the problem of length. A movie suggests at least 80 minutes, and if they kept to the original themes of the series there would be no love interest, no special effects, no action scenes/stunts/explosions/guns etc, obviously a problem for movie- goers today. The problem of plot also comes into it- Yes Minister depended on brilliant writing, but without a live audience, extended run time and a script designed for a movie and not a series, I'm sure the writers would be stretched to maintain the intelligent humour all the way through and get a good response. I'm sure it would also come too close to a soap opera, something I'd really rather avoid.
I don't mean to snap at anyone, but I can't bear the thought of a re-make in any form. I love the original cast and the way they portrayed the characters so much, and anybody else trying to take on the role would ruin it for me. I just can't see the actors mentioned striking the right balance, and anyway, I live in eternal fear of a remake. Again, I'm sorry if I offended anybody and maybe I kind of over-reacted to just a suggestion, but another one of the things that attracted me to Yes (Prime) Minister was that they brought the series to a close before the quality of the writing started to die. Yes Minister hasn't been shamefully over merchandised like some comedy shows, and so it'll always retain that sense of dignity.
Now you may commence throwing stones.
Though an American myself, I heartily agree with you miruvorgreenleaf! A remake would be an insult to the brilliance of this show. Now, a reunion would have been great, but it's too late for that now.
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OK, so what's the speed of dark?
I agree with miruvorgreenleaf. Quite aside from the problems he/she/it mentioned, I refuse to even consider anyone other than Nigel Hawthorne as Humphrey. And since he's dead that could be a problem...
Duo Maxwell: [On suffocation] Oh, this is such a lame way to die. This is so not cool!
'Quite aside from the problems he/she/it mentioned...'
Hooray! I'm a he/she/it! (Just kidding. I like to think I'm female.)
Oh my God the horror! They wouldn't, they couldn't... it wouldn't work and would be wrong. A absolutely adore Stephen Fry and love Hugh Laurie too but they just couldn't be Sir Humphrey and Jim Hacker - Sir Humphrey was and will forever be Nigel Hawthorne and Jim was and will forever be Paul Eddington. I remember an article in the Radio Times a few years back suggesting Stephen and Hugh in those roles for a remake but Derek Fowlds quite rightly said that it wouldn't work.
Besides, a film wouldn't work at all. They got away with Party Games being that bit longer than the "normal" episodes but then they needed to develop the storyline so that Jim could easily go from being a very minor cabinet minister to being the only candidate for Prime Minister but I don't think there could be a storyline that would need such time repeated let alone having to make it longer, as miruvorgreenleaf said at least 80 minutes. What would they do bearing in mind that the success of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister is that all the storylines concerned things that could actually happen in real life. We couldn't have Jim and Humphrey racing against time to save the world from an atomic bomb or from some other similar threat all guns blazing, helicopters all over the place and lines such as "get ready to launch the super missile in thirty minutes". That would never happen, let alone in the fairly nice world of YM/YPM
So that's an action movie ruled out, what else have we got? Jim or Humphrey being the romantic hero - I think not. Then we have the horror, thriller and sci-fi genres and YM/YPM just doesn't fit at all. It is what it is - an absolutely brilliant situation comedy which is still loved after over 25 years since the first series.
Sorry to go on but I get rather defensive of things I love!
Luv Claire!xx
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Heh, sorry, I just don't like to assume in case I get it wrong.
Duo Maxwell: [On suffocation] Oh, this is such a lame way to die. This is so not cool!
I was well against it - but good call on Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. If it happened, knowing those two in the roles would help.
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Arrested Development 2009
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Count my opinion as agreement with you. Yes Red Dwarf was somehow sullied with the lovely Cochanski. The chemisty and the writing of the series (YM & YPM) were brilliant and i really can't see lightning striking twice. and if i might suggest, the marvellous Colin Firth would be a superb Bernard and Ben Kingsly as Sir Humphrey.
Now a derivative MIGHT be possible. perhaps make this one take place in Canada since we have a similar parliamentary system that is equally as screwed up and we have similar but different issues.
There simply aren't actors nowerdays with the caliber to play such roles.
Also, the backdrop of today's political scene in the UK is too tame, bland and uninteresting to base it in modern times.
Well, that's my opinion anyway.
Agreed - if they made a film I would leave the country.
It's too clever to ruin with a crap script, uninspiring modern performances and the absence of a revolutionary 80s backdrop.
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(¸.·´ (¸.·´ You have used 3 inches of Sticky Tape. God Bless You!
Agreed. It is very much a product of the political climate at the time, and wouldn't work in any other era.
I'm not against remakes/re-imaginings per se, provided a significant improvement is made on the original. In this case, a significant improvement is impossible, since this is sit-com perfection already.
I fight for the users! -- TRON
Well, it worked for "The Thick of It"/"In The Loop".
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