Page 9? Bill Nighy Hints at Page Eight SequelHarry Palmer Movie Site webmaster Kees Stam chimed in with a comment on my recent post about the upcoming DVD and Blu-ray of the BBC spy film Page Eight providing a link to a video interview in which star Bill Nighy says the David Hare telefilm might be the beginning of a franchise. When the BBC anchor asks him, "Do you think there's a possibility that this character of yours could live on and you could find yourself playing this agent in lots more portions of the same thing?" the actor replies, "Well, I'm lobbying very hard. I'd be very happy! I wear a dark blue overcoat, I smoke herbal cigarettes in the rain, I stand on Battersea Bridge in the dark and you have to worry about what I am thinking. It's a kind of perfect role. Uh, but yeah, there are moves; they are keen to have more, so there may be, uh... there may be." I haven't even seen this film yet (which airs in America on PBS on November 6), but I'm still excited at the notion of a follow-up! More serious spy movies are always a good thing, of course, but even moreso when they star the likes of Nighy, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon and Rachel Weisz. The interview begins with a good clip from the film showcasing Nighy's performance, which might interest American viewers like myself who haven't yet had the opportunity to see Page Eight.
Bill Nighy is brilliant-- one need only see the range of this actor from Still Crazy to Girl in the Cafe to State of Play to appreciate his talent. Let's hope it becomes a series.
ReplyDeleteThere HAS to be at least one sequel where Nancy goes to Rio de Janeiro to try to find him. She loves him terribly. He loves her but was caught at the wrong time.
ReplyDeleteThen there could be all sorts of suspense: is MI5 trailing him? Can he safely return to England? How long with Nancy stay with him?
WARNING: SPOILERS DISCUSSED HERE AND IN THE COMMENT ABOVE
ReplyDeleteI really hope there is, Marjorie! I'D definitely like to see more! But as much as I'd LIKE to see more, I kind of struggle with that. Because even though there were definitely things left up in the air (including the ones you mention), Johnny's character arc was very satisfyingly complete. And I worry you'd risk compromising that with a follow-up. But then again, I trust that David Hare would be able to pull that off...