The Taking of Pelham 123

Next month sees the release of The Taking of Pelham 123, a remake of the classic 1974 flick, itself an adaptation of John Godey’s novel, which starred Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw.

This time around Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by the hijacking of a subway train with John Travolta heading up the highlackers.

Travolta’s highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour.

As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages.  But there’s one riddle Garber can’t solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?

The Taking of Pelham 123 is being released July 24th through Sony Pictures

Reggie Perrin returns Friday

Martin Clunes revives a comedy legend when Reggie Perrin returns to BBC One in a modern-day update of the classic British sitcom The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin.

The new series, written by Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye and David Nobbs, writer and creator of the original Seventies show, retells the story of a sales executive on the edge – an average man finding it increasingly difficult to put up with the monotony of life, the disappointing marriage, the office grind as head of disposable razors at male-grooming firm Groomtech and the daily commute.

Rebellion begins to build in his mind, in the form of increasingly surreal flights of fancy, and slowly, Reggie begins to say what he really thinks – to his wife, his boss, his fellow commuters … and, most dangerously of all, to his new colleague, Jasmine Strauss.

As the series begins, Reggie is feeling increasingly frustrated and alienated as he realises that he has worked at Groomtech for 10 years. Reggie’s boss, Chris Jackson, introduces him to the beautiful Jasmine Strauss, the new head of balms and lubricants. His wife, Nicola, is too busy for him, so Reggie becomes a little besotted with Jasmine and even has a peek in her office.

Clunes is joined by Fay Ripley (Cold Feet), Wendy Craig (Butterflies, The Royal), Geoffrey Whitehead (Worst Week Of My Life), Neil Stuke (Game On) and Lucy Liemann (Moving Wallpaper).

BBC One, Friday 24 April 21.30

BUY CLASSIC REGGIE PERRIN ON DVD

Five Revives Minder

Shane Ritchie is star as Archie Daley, Arthur Daley’s nephew, in a six-part revival of Minder. The series, produced for Five by talkbackTHAMES, will also star Lex Shrapnel as Jamie Collins.

Executive Producer for talkbackTHAMES, Johnathan Young, said: “Minder is one of the British comedy drama greats. We’re working with really strong writing and directorial talent to capture the wit and sentiment of the original series, whilst exploring the strong bond between the two leads. We want to satisfy fans of the original, but will also add different elements to excite new viewers.”

The show will be produced by Sean O’Connor who said the new version would be “a hugely entertaining, warm and very funny show with an absolutely cracking relationship at the heart of the show.”

As in the original, the capital plays an important part in the drama, with each episode exploring a corner of contemporary London, from the glossy Gherkin and London Eye to the tower blocks of Walworth and the markets of Borough and Bermondsey.

Each hour-long episode is a self-contained story where Archie and Jamie come into contact with a cast of contemporary characters from wannabes and has-beens, to villains and police.

ITV Name Prisoner Cast

ITV has announced the cast of its upcoming remake of 60s cult classic, The Prisoner.

As previously announced Jim Caviezel is set to play the title role of “Number Six” with two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen will co-starring in the role of “Number Two.”

Today’s newly announced cast members include the BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre, Capturing Mary) in the role of Number 313; Hayley Atwell (Brideshead Revisited, Mansfield Park) as Number 41-5; Lennie James (Jericho, 24 Hour Party People) as Number 147; and Jamie Campbell-Bower (Sweeney Todd, Rocknrolla) as Number 11-12.

Hayley Atwell is soon to appear as Julia Flyte in the forthcoming movie remake of Brideshead Revisited; her previous work includes the television adaptations of The Ruby in the Smoke and The Line of Beauty, as well as Mansfield Park for ITV.

Lennie James has had a prolific career on television, film and in theatre. Most recently he has appeared in both series of the cult CBS show Jericho as the mysterious Robert Hawkins. His film works include Michael Winterbottom’s 24 Hour Party People and Guy Ritchie’s movie Snatch.

Jamie Campell-Bower is best known for his portrayal of Anthony, alongside Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd. He has recently filmed Rocknrolla, Guy Ritchie’s latest directorial project.

An ITV co-production with AMC and Granada International, the g the six-part series will premiere in 2009.

BBC One To Revive Survivors

It’s been announced that BBC Drama Productions are to remake Tarry Nation’s 1970’s drama series Survivors for broadcast on BBC One. Set in the present day, the new series will be written by Adrian Hodges.

Hodges said he was “thrilled to be involved with re-imagining it for a new audience.”

The original show, which launched in April 1975 and ran for 38 episodes over three series, focussed on a post-apocalyptic world, in the aftermath of a devastating plague which wipes out over 99% of the world’s population, and how a group of individuals grappled with the trials of day-to-day survival.

Kate Harwood, Head of Series and Serials at BBC Drama Production, said “after months of negotiations, I am delighted that one of British television’s great cult series will return with original stories packed with adventure and spirit set against the backdrop of our own recognisable world.”

Nation is best known as the creator of the Daleks in Doctor Who and fellow BBC Sc-Fi hit Blake’s 7.