Even by its own standards of taking something wonderful and ruining it, Hollywood just hacked up the motherlode.
Lost in Showbiz is too distraught to summarise, so here's the top of the Variety story.
"Mel Gibson has committed to star in 'Edge of Darkness', marking his first starring role in a feature film since he headlined 'Signs' and 'We Were Soldiers' in 2002. Martin Campbell will direct the feature adaptation of the six-hour 1985 BBC miniseries, which Campbell also helmed."
If you didn't see the original BBC series, starring the brilliant Bob Peck, buy it now. Own it now. Watch it now, before arguably one of the five best UK TV dramas ever made is forever tainted by one's inability to watch it without thinking of The Passion of the Christ, or of Mel slurring at a Malibu cop "Fucking Jews... Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?"
Depressing enough for ya? No? Well, if it helps, the BBC are involved "in a producing capacity".
Well done, Auntie! Why don't you just remake Tinker Tailor Solider Spy with Robin Williams? Boys from the Blackstuff with Matthew McConnaughey? Come to that, I hear Ashton Kutcher is looking for a Singing Detective-type vehicle - even if he has to fight Danny Glover for it.
