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Why original V star Marc Singer thinks the time is right for the remake
Marc Singer, who starred in the original 1980s sci-fi miniseries V and subsequent spinoffs, told SCI FI Wire that he would love to take part in ABC's upcoming re-imagined series, which is slated to debut after January 2010.
Singer played reporter Mike Donovan in the original miniseries, about an invasion of apparently benign aliens who turn out to be sinister lizard creatures with a nefarious agenda.
The new V is a re-imagining, about the world's first encounter with an alien race in which the aliens call themselves the Visitors and have a seemingly friendly agenda that may or may not be a cover for something more malevolent. The new show stars Elizabeth Mitchell as Erica Evans, Morris Chestnut as Ryan Nichols, Joel Gretsch as Father Jack Landry, Lourdes Benedicto as Valerie Stevens, Logan Huffman as Tyler Evans and Laura Vandervoort as Lisa, with Morena Baccarin as Anna and Scott Wolf as Chad Decker.
The series is produced by HDFilms in association with Warner Brothers Television. Scott Peters is executive producer/writer, and Steve Pearlman and Jason Hall are executive producers. The pilot was directed and executive-produced by Yves Simoneau.
For someone who was a major part of the original series in all its forms, I'm dying to know what you think of V returning to television.
Singer: I think a good story can always be retold, and I think it is a good story. I think its relevance is as powerful today as it was then. The same forces of subversion and the same sort of fascist tendencies are afoot, and I think it's a cautionary tale that bears retelling.
Everyone who watched the original show knows the ending. Do you think it can work even with that knowledge?
Singer: Well, I do. ... I don't know if they will keep the original ending or perhaps modify it. I think it's more in the telling of the tale of society being subverted. And society being wooed into channels that are disruptive and dumbed down. I believe that those are the ways in which the story's retelling sort of supersedes that plot line, because it's the human interaction. It's the failings and dangers of our own nature that lie at the heart of this story.
Last time I spoke to Robert Englund [who played Willie in the original series], he said he'd like to do a cameo in the new series. Would you be interested in doing one?
Singer: Oh, sure. I think it would be fun to do a cameo. I think it would be fun to do more than a cameo and see where that leads us. The nice thing about a program like V is that it's open to all sorts of add-ons and interpretations. The possibilities are definitely there. I am certainly an admirer and friend of Kenneth Johnson, so it's possible that that sort of thing might actually occur.
By manysisters at 8:52 AM ON 06/12/09
I hope Kenneth Johnson gets to do an episode writing and directing as well. As for Marc Singer--who doesn't want to see him with a meaningful role?! I was hoping that there would be a movie based on the book sequel that recently came out.
By robin at 10:16 AM ON 06/12/09
I get the impression from that last line that Marc Singer is unaware that Kenneth Johnson is not affiliated with the ABC remake at all.
By neilapril at 11:17 AM ON 06/12/09
REMAKE BEAST MASTER!!!!!!!! LOL just kidding beast master is a classic no need!
By chris von danger at 11:53 AM ON 06/12/09
They made a horrible beastmaster sequel, which was a total joke ;) Id like to see singer return similar to what he did on the syndicated beastmaster series...
By rodee at 12:03 PM ON 06/12/09
Of course, bring back Singer and Englund, this is a real no-brainer.
By Griffon at 12:41 PM ON 06/12/09
The original mini-series was great but the series did not live up to it. I hope the new version does well. I would love to see Marc Singer and many of the other originals make cameo or regular apperances in the new series providing they are used to enhance the story and not the ratings.
By LT at 3:10 PM ON 06/12/09
When I heard about the re-imagining and remaking of V; I said to myself; it would be excellant to bring back all or most of the original cast members to star. Especially Michael Ironside, Robert Englund,Jane Badler,June Chadwick, Faye Grant, and Marc Singer.
I met Mr. Singer some years ago at a sci-fi convention and he talked about his career at that time. He is a down-to-earth gentleman and very friendly.
By VisitorSite.net at 3:11 PM ON 06/12/09
I really enjoyed Marc Singer on "V" and I hope there's room for him, Faye Grant, Jane Badler, and Robert Englund all to appear.
Even seeing some of the other actors from the original series such as Blair Tefkin could be interesting.
I wonder if the character changes for the new series may have something to do with Kenneth Johnson's rights to the characters for a movie. If that is the case, I wonder if Michael Ironside's Ham Tyler would be free, since he first appeared in "The Final Battle." Such a great character.
By Russell22 at 5:17 PM ON 06/12/09
I'm open to a V remake but would have just prefered the continuation that Johnson was hping to do..think that would have been more interesting to see that the war some 20 yrs later was still going on etc but i'll give the remake a shot. Pity its not gonna air for another few months..really disappointing. they should have had it aired in september/oct
I have a real fondness for the original show..yes even the much derided sries which admittidly was terrible in places..lol
By vobsessed at 9:04 PM ON 06/12/09
Russell, you should say, 'the continuation that Johnson IS hoping to make..." altho long in coming, he is still very much in talks to bring his original to the big screen with a hopeful sequel of his V: The Next Generation book to follow...
:)
By TheBigCW at 2:05 AM ON 06/13/09
hmmm... i wonder if Marc Singer is going to pull a "Richard Hatch" and be on the new series as a new character...
By webby at 4:18 AM ON 06/14/09
nice to have a remake - i've got the original mini-series and would gladly buy the remake (if they put some effort into it)
By WhiteStarPilot at 9:24 AM ON 06/15/09
the main reason I'll be watching is the sumptuous Morena Baccarin... what red-blooded male didn't want to be one of her stops as a Companion in "Firefly"? Speaking of which.... I'm ready for them to bring that back first! :-D
Oh, and I guess marc Singer is cool too... He was really good as John Capeletti in "Something for Joey" - what a tearjerker!
By The Gipper at 12:46 PM ON 06/15/09
Marc Singer needs to eat!!!
By robian at 6:33 PM ON 07/10/09
great to see v back one of all time 80s greats where diana she was so hot singer and ironside back together would be the best deeply missed
By Indianbiker at 12:36 AM ON 07/28/09
The problem is that while the V mini-series was grade A stuff, after Warner Bros gave Kenneth Johnson the boot because they did not want to spend very much on the sequel, they brought in new producers who ran the show into the ground to become possibly the worst Sci-Fi TV series ever. Well the new producers point it in a more creative direction?
By Julian Schecter at 9:22 PM ON 08/02/09
I sincerely hope that the V remake is going to be a hit because I am a huge fan of the original mini-series and while The Final Battle was decent, it doesn't match up to the original mini-series. As for the tv series, it started off on a good note, the first several episodes were quite engaging and then the show took a nose dive real fast. It got progressively worse, but to be fair, it does have one redeeming quality: the show was not afraid to kill off major characters.
Anyway, I was hoping that Kenneth Johnson would get to do his own V remake major motion picture and then do The Second Generation sequel, based on the novel he recenlty wrote. I've been in contact with him and he told me that his plan is to recast the roles of Mike Donovan, Julie Parrish, Diana and Willie, and once he begins work on The Second Generation, the aformentioned characters will be cast by actors of the original mini-series: Jane Badler (Diana), Faye Grant (Julie Parrish), Robert Englund (Willie), and of course Marc Singer (Mike Donovan) as their older counterparts. I must admit that it is a very cool twist. One thing is certain, if the V remake flunks in the ratings, we can kiss goodbye the possibility of seeing a V continuation of the original mini-series that Kenneth Johnson is hoping to get off the ground. For his version of V to be a reality, the V remake must do very well in the ratings and it has big shoes to fill because the original mini-series was excellent. And yes, I too would love to see Marc Singer return to V in this remake, providing that the writers give him a juicy role to play in, sort of like what Ron Moore did for Richard Hatch in the Battlestar Galactica remake. Hey, why not cast Singer as Mike Donovan in the remake? Yeah, I think that would also be another cool twist! Here's hoping that the remake will do great. V for Victory!
By Don at 8:07 PM ON 11/02/09
Marc Singer made V the franchise it was. period He needs a role and maybe a significant one, similar to what Ham Tyler played( M Ironside) a force later on that helped them win the battle. Who agrees? you know i am right.
By taegel at 7:59 PM ON 11/04/09
Marc Singer is one of the most under-rated actors of all time. If he finds the right role, I see him totally reinventing himself. For that reason, I kind of hope he doesn't do anything with the new V series. It would be much cooler to see him in a gritty cop drama like Southland, the president on 24, or some other recurring dramatic role that requires serious acting chops.
By JPMessiah at 3:21 PM ON 11/06/09
I think that you had to go with new actors in this new show, but because they located it in New York, rather than Los Angeles - the setting of the original, the possibilities are endless when it comes to cameo appearances by original actors. The old books used to feature the L.A. group associating with the New York group all the time. It would not be weird to see Michael Donovan and Juliet Parish show up to offer a hand, suggesting that many of the things (although we'd have to update them in our mind) that happened in the original series are still taking place. Ham Tyler, who looks exactly the same, would make the most sense for a cameo.
By tine at 8:22 PM ON 11/12/09
i want watch again for V and I want copy for DVD...it is long time since 1980....I miss part of it.. I want full whole program for DVD please thanks
By abutterflyloves at 9:06 PM ON 11/18/09
Watching the Original on the internet until the DVDs come. I forgot how much I loved Michael Ironside and Marc Singer.
By Bormu at 6:59 AM ON 02/04/10
What do you think about who is JONH MAY?
Im sure, be Marc Singer
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