Dear God... let this be true...

[DrRocka]

The BBC are making an original era - set version of War Of The Worlds. So long as no - one called Moffat's involved, I'm over the moon.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2017/5/4/15551306/bbc-the-war-of-the-worlds-tv-series-peter-hartness

[CrazyFoxMachine]

If it's basically Edginton & D'Israeli's adaptation scored by Jeff Wayne that's all of my boxes ticked.

[Richard]

I'd watch that.

[Dredd Head]

I'd watch that.

Agreed . Loved scarlet traces and the Spielberg adaptation so hopefully this turns out good[/size]

[Heath C Ackley]

Radio 4 broadcast an adaptation not so long ago. It was closer to the original source and more mature in nature than any of the movie versions.

[Dredd Head]

Radio 4 broadcast an adaptation not so long ago. It was closer to the original source and more mature in nature than any of the movie versions.

I wonder if theirs any way of finding this. Would be good listening while doing the dishes

[IndigoPrime]

Although the book was intentionally contemporary (and primarily a satire on imperialism), I've never fully understood telly and Hollywood's fascination for updating the original story, not least as we continue to blaze away from the 1890s. To my mind, any War of the Worlds set in the modern day now strikes me as a missed opportunity – another me-too 'man against the aliens' movie. But Sharpe vs steampunk tripods – that, I want to see!

[Eric Plumrose]

But Sharpe vs steampunk tripods – that, I want to see!

Been over ten years since I first heard about it and I still haven't picked up a copy (word at the time was that it wasn't much cop) but the Timothy Hines version in its various cuts and reworkings might tickle that pickle.

[DrRocka]

I've actually got a copy of the Hines one from around ten years ago Eric, it's nigh on unwatchable. God bless him, like the artillery man, his dreams far exceeded his powers. PM me your address and if I can find it I'll send it over to you when I get a day off later in the week. It's region 1 only though, if I remember rightly.

[shaolin_monkey]

I pretty much love every single adaptation of The War of the Worlds, even those that aren't much cop.  However, what I would want out of a BBC drama is the original period setting, some shit hot special effects, and someone narrating passages from the original book - and not just the intro! 

Wells's writing is just awesome, and paints more pictures than either the musical or any film adaptation:

[Dredd Head]

Only if it's narrated by Morgan freeman 

[Keef Monkey]

Remember Tripods?! That still remains quite a painful childhood memory for me as it was the first time a show I watched regularly got cancelled mid-flow. I seem to recall a 'Tripods will take a break for the golf coverage' type announcement and then it just never came back, which confused the hell out of me. I guess it prepared me for how harsh the telly cancel-hammer would be as life went on!

I'd be up for this, I did genuinely really like the Spielberg film (there are parts of it where it conjures up that childhood tripod terror brilliantly) but I don't think I've ever seen an adaptation in the original period setting so should be interesting. Closest was probably the '60s(?) film, and that didn't even have tripods in it. Pffft.

[CrazyFoxMachine]

Radio 4 broadcast an adaptation not so long ago. It was closer to the original source and more mature in nature than any of the movie versions.

Yeah I was going to say - if they basically beef up the radio script it'd be some pretty harrowing viewing

[Proudhuff]

Only if it's narrated by Morgan freeman 

Good shout, or Bill Nighy?

Best ever: Richard Burton... his reading of the Thunderchild excerpt is still stirring (if only he'd read out the whole thing and that fey f**ker didn't start singing)

[positronic]

If it's basically Edginton & D'Israeli's adaptation scored by Jeff Wayne that's all of my boxes ticked.

If only! I'm equally excited and jaded with a 'probably too good to be true' outlook, meaning despite what sounds like good intentions, I fear that they'll find a way to muck it up, or just not have the money or technical expertise to do it justice.