Spectrum Headquarters Forum

Additional note to the previous post:

One paragraph towards the end of the interview caught my eye and I'm sure it will catch yours. On the subject of casting the role of Lieutenant Ellis, Gratzner says:

“Ellis? That’s a tough one. We have four actresses right now that we're looking at, and it ranges from what you'd expect to something perhaps not as typical. But it's nothing outrageous - we're certainly not going to turn round and say 'Okay, Ellis is a man now'! It's a tough call, because both Straker and Ellis are two characters who really encompass the core of the show."

"Okay, Ellis is a man now"?! Do I have the impression that Mr. Gratzner either is a fan of the original Captain Scarlet who didn't like that the equally iconic Green was turned into a woman in the new show - or that he read reactions from fans upon discovering this very drastic and shocking change!?

With the current slavish trend of changing genders in re-imagined TV/Film series, anything could happen, but, unlike the new NCS and Battlerstar Galactica, for instance, I dont see what improvement in dramatic tension it would achieve to change Ellis to a guy.

There is a line of interior dilalogue from the character of Paul Foster in the first UFO novelisation from Pan Books, where he describes them: 'What a pair, she and Straker: the Snow Queen and the Human Icicle'.
And several times in the series there was a hint of something in the air, when Straker and Ellis were seen together on-screen.

Perhaps more importantly, it would reduce the number of women in a leading position within Shado, which doesnt make a lot of sense if the desire is to promote equality between the sexes in a modern show.

We all know Anderson was way ahead of his time in doing just that in any case with the original, it would be just plain silly to do something different in this new movie just for the sake of it. But then...we know that's exactly what happens.

Reviving this thread. I was with a friend online this evening, and we were discussing Gerry Anderson's death and his involvement as consultant for the U.F.O. movie. I went to see the official site. I didn't go for a while, and quite frankly, I thought it was either dead or in limbo.

Instead, I found that it had been updated VERY recently! And what they did (the producers) was quite nice:

http://www.ufo-themovie.com/shado/

That's a beautiful and graceful tribute. Well done, guys.