Tom Hollander
This makes the fifth version in production that I have seen since starting this blog. Just a quick recap of the other versions that haven’t been made; there was the Jazzy Brolin version, the Esmeralda POV from Peter Chernin, the Max Ryan version, and the Charles Dance and Peter Dinklage project. Aside from Dinklage and Dance project which was only announced back in October of 2017, the other projects seem to be in development hell or ceased to be. In fact the most recent news from Brolin+Hunchback search in google news is that Brolin liken his character Thanos in Avengers Infinity Wars to Quasimodo. (Souce)
So about a month ago it was announced that Tom Hollander was going to produce and star in another TV movie version of Hunchback. This version will air on ITV which is the same network that aired Downton Abbey.
Considering it’s an actor producing the project and set to play the titular role (at least in English), this does seem like a vanity project akin to the Brolin and Max Ryan versions. Unlike the those versions, Hollander does seem like he will make for a more convincing Quasimodo even though he will be playing a character 30 years younger.
Hollander has a very extensive filmography. He’s probably most known for playing Mr.Collins in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley. He has also been in Night Manger and Taboo. I have seen in Ab Fab the Last Shout and the BBC version of Wives and Daughters but he has lots of credits.
Hollander does seem more like actor and less a celebrity as he goes into a role without ego. He a bit like Rufus Sewell in that regard, where you see him in a role and you don’t know it’s him.
So while the track record for a Hunchback movie versions getting made hasn’t been great, I hope this version does get made. Though I hope they all get made because I still want to know what a “jazzy” Hunchback will be like. Or if there is still a Giant in the Max Ryan version or if that was an IMDB lie.
But do you think? Are you excited by this news and hope that this is the version that FINALLY gets made?
Honestly, with all the versions that have been announced and then not happened, I’d be surprised if we actually get a new film/TV adaptation by 2020. I’m always excited and hopeful, because if the adaptation isn’t true to the book or is just plain bad, I can always play the NDDP drinking game and/or yell at the screen…get some rage out. I think any fan is excited/happy when something new is presented, but I’m skeptical of whether or not it will happen.
I feel the same. If a new version happens great but I’m not going to broken up if this new version doesn’t get made.