UNITED KINGDOM/ USA: REUTERS TALKS TO THE STARS OF "LOST IN SPACE" AND "MCHALE'S NAVY"

Record ID: 386943

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM/ USA: REUTERS TALKS TO THE STARS OF "LOST IN SPACE" AND "MCHALE'S NAVY"
  • Date: 12th April 1997
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 12, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) TOM ARNOLD (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SAYING IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU HAVE A TV SERIES THAT PEOPLE LOVE. THAT IS WHY WE MADE IT AN ACTION-COMEDY
  • Embargoed: 27th April 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVABCVM4F80DRXDYXREG50AL7JHZ
  • Story Text: It's being hyped as the film that will have more special effects than any other in history.

    "Lost in Space", a remake of the cult American 1960s television series, is currently being filmed at Shepperton studios in West London.

    The film's makers and stars faced the media in London this week -- giving an insight into the 90's film version of a much-loved series.

    Writer/producer Akiva Goldsman told journalists the film would have twice as many special effects scenes as Jurassic Park.

    "Every big science fiction movie today seems to be built around special effects. Our has no shortage of special effects," he said.

    "In fact, if we complete the number of special effects we have budgeted and boarded, we will have more special effects in this movie than any other in history." The film's stars, William Hurt, Gary Oldman, Friends actor Matt LeBlanc and Mimi Rodgers also faced the media.

    As well as their human counterparts, "Lost in Space" will also feature a full complement of robots, giant spiders and aliens. In all, it will cost about 60 million dollars to make.

    Like the TV series, the film tells the story of the Robinson family who set off to colonise another planet, only to be thrown off course by scheming Dr Zachary Smith, played by Oldman.

    Hollywood producers New Line Cinema hope it will be the first of several movies and spawn profitable merchandise opportunities.

    However, at least one star was dubious of how successful his model doll would be.

    "I think if anybody sees me on a shelf in a store they wouldn't buy me," Hurt said.

    Oldman's character is a lot more sinister than his predecessor.

    "But I am somewhat at the mercy of the scripts that come through the letterbox," he said. "I don't get romantic leads, but I am an actor and I like to work." The film also features three newcomers -- Heather Graham, Lacey Chabert and Jack Johnson as the Robinson youngsters. Mimi Rogers plays the mother Maureen, remade for the 1990s as a professor in her own right.

    Le Blanc takes on the role of pilot Major Don West, a character he admits is very different from Joey Trebbiani in Friends.

    "He's a fast thinking, fit, military background sort of character whereas the role in Friends - well you have seen it," he said.

    "Lost in Space" is planned for worldwide release next spring.

    Across the Atlantic, the latest feature film rendition of a classic 1960's TV program to hit the big screen is "McHales Navy".

    It stars Tom Arnold and Tim Curry and features an appearance by Ernest Borgnine, who starred in the original series as McHale.

    Arnold plays Quinton McHale, a retired United States Navy Lieutenant Commander who has become the "laid back" patron of a small Caribbean island.

    A rag-tag group of outcasts which comprise the island's Naval base "assist" McHale in spreading free enterprise in the form of McHale beer, McHale ice cream, McHale anything.

    When an uptight new base captain arrives simultaneously with the world's second-most wanted terrorist, the Pentagon ends up recruiting McHale to save the island of San Ysidro.

    The ensemble cast of "McHale's Navy" includes Dean Stockwell (Captain Wallace B. Binghampton), David Alan Grier (Ensign Charles T. Parker), Debra Messing (Lieutenant Penelope Carpenter), French Stewart (Happy), Bruce Campbell (Virgil), Brian Haley (Christy), Ernest Borgnine (Cobra) and Tim Curry (Major Vladikov).
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