I was thrilled to read this morning that Masterpiece Mystery has confirmed the return of Inspector Lewis (AND HATHAWAY!) this September for a four-episode run. Inspector Lewis Series IV will begin September 4th, with subsequent episodes airing September 18th & 25th and October 9th. Here are some early details about the stories we have to look forward to:
Masterpiece Mystery favorites Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox are back as Inspector Lewis and DS Hathaway in four new Oxford University-based whodunits, which have them solving cases at an all-female college, investigating the poisoning of a bishop, looking into a clinical trial and examining a sinister blackmail plot.You can read the rest of the Masterpiece Mystery schedule here.
Two new programs have also been announced for Masterpiece Contemporary, airing this fall - Page Eight starring Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Michael Gambon, and Ralph Fiennes, and The Song of Lunch starring Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. Here are some early details about these two programs:
Spy-thriller Page Eight, by Oscar-nominee David Hare (The Reader, The Hours), features Nighy as an MI-5 officer who becomes wrapped up in an elaborate conspiracy after the death of his best friend, Benedict Baron (Gambon). Page Eight also stars Weisz as Johnny's neighbor as well as Ralph Fiennes and Judy Davis.In other Masterpiece news (thanks to http://www.deadline.com/), Series 2 of Downton Abbey is currently filming and will wrap in July. It will start airing on Masterpiece in January 2012.
Rickman and Thompson star in The Song of Lunch, based on Christopher Reid's poem, about a book editor and his former lover who reconnect 15 years after their original affair.
Series 2 of the newly rebooted Upstairs Downstairs goes into production in September for a grand total of SIX one-hour episodes (oh happy day!). There is no Masterpiece airdate yet (but I have to think it will be picked up, given Masterpiece's history with the Upstairs Downstairs brand).
Masterpiece is also picking up the BBC's new three-hour adaptation of Great Expectations (as well as a new Edwin Drood adaptation, which Rebecca Eaton mentions in the video from the first news link in this post).
And now for the heart-breaking SAD news...apparently Series 2 of Sherlock has been bumped to Spring 2012 for Masterpiece fans. I swear this news makes me want to boycott the silly Hobbit movie. :P Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are shooting the second series now. I'm guessing it will kick off next year's Mystery season in May. This wait is NOT cool, not cool at all. *sigh*
There's lots of other miscellaneous drama news at the deadline.com article, so be sure to check it out!
ARRRRRGH, I was afraid that was going to happen as soon as I saw Sherlock wasn't on schedule for Mystery this season. Sadface.
ReplyDeleteAnd Inspector Lewis better be renewed. From now on until forever. ;)
No Sherlock this year...how depressing!!! Do you remember me telling you about Song of Lunch? I watched it on YouTube after it aired in the UK. I LOVED it. It won't be for everyone, but I loved the whole idea that it's basically the poem in visual form...and I love the pretty much nonstop voice-over with Alan Rickman's voice.
ReplyDeleteInspector Lewis!!!!! Yay, that just makes my day.
ReplyDeleteBoth of the programs for contemporary sound interesting too.
@heidenkind - You are so right. Think of the sorry shape we'd be in if we were denied both Sherlock AND Hathaway. It doesn't bear thinking of... :)
ReplyDelete@Lori - Tell me about it! Ok, I thought Song of Lunch sounded familiar!!! Alan Rickman talking non-stop...woo-hoo I am intrigued. :)
@Michelle - Made mine too. :) I'm especially interested in the spy story...I'm a sucker for those. :)
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to wait until 2012 for the second season of Sherlock?! But...I'll have graduated from college by then, and that seems sooooo long from now!! Ahhhhh! :(
Sorry for the outburst, but that just really makes me sad. :(
~Amber
Thanks for all the news! I, too, mourn the wait for Sherlock. I've never seen Inspector Lewis, but Oxford University-based mysteries? Hubby and I will definitely set those to record! Love when I have good Masterpiece Theatre to look forward to. Those are our favorite date nights!
ReplyDelete@Amber S. - Eeekk! You're gonna be graduating in the spring? How exciting Amber! :) I am with you, not happy about this delay - but goodness the sad truth is I'm sure the rest of this year will FLY by. *sigh* Patience I guess... ;)
ReplyDelete@Anne - You're welcome! Oh, if you've never seen Inspector Lewis you are in for a treat! If you are so inclined I definitely encourage you to go back and start the series from the beginning - that way you'll get to see Lewis and Hathaway's friendship and working relationship develop. :)
The Inspector Lewis series sounds cool but its such a bummer that Sherlock has been bumper to next spring! Come on; I know The Hobbit will be a good movie and all but Sherlock is by far cooler and handsomer! ;)
ReplyDelete@Elaine - I completely agree with your assessment of Sherlock! :)
ReplyDelete2012?! They're trying to kill me! Stupid Peter Jackson, King Kong sucked and now you're making us wait for more Sherlock.
ReplyDelete@Joni - I KNOW. I am not happy about this AT ALL, either. *sigh*
ReplyDelete