Bill Nighy to star as Sergeant Wilson in new Dad's Army film
A new film version of Dad's Army looks set to go ahead.
Based on the classic BBC sitcom about the bumbling members of a Home Guard unit on England's south coast during the Second World War, the new project will star Toby Jones and Bill Nighy (pictured).
Jones, who played Alfred Hitchcock in the 2012 TV drama The Girl, will take on the role of Captain Mainwaring, the self-important leader of the unit, portrayed by Arthur Lowe in the classic 1968 to 1977 BBC sitcom.
Meanwhile, Love Actually star Bill Nighy will take on the role of the calm, suave Sergeant Wilson, the character previously played by John Le Mesurier.
A Dad's Army film already exists. The 1971 movie, written by creators Jimmy Perry and David Croft, follows the platoon from their humble beginnings into their formation as a "formidable" fighting unit. Whilst not as popular as the series on which it was based, the Dad's Army movie is widely regarded as one of the better sitcom-to-film adaptations of the era.
When news of the idea to make a new film first emerged in November 2012, it was met with disdain from fans. When Jimmy Perry revealed plans at a meeting of the Dad's Army Appreciation Society, the news was met with "groans of dread" from the audience. At the time it was suggested the role of Captain Mainwaring may be taken by a woman, but this now appears to be unfounded.
The new film project has come about after Jimmy Perry has negotiated a deal over the show's rights with Ann Croft, the widow of his writing partner David Croft, who died in September 2011.
However, Perry will act as a producer on the project but is not involved in writing the new film. The script is being worked on by Hamish McColl, who has previously worked on Mr. Bean's Holiday and Johnny English Reborn. The plot will remain faithful to the show, with Captain Mainwaring commanding the makeshift troop of soldiers and defending his hometown against the invading German army.
The film looks set to be shot on location in Thetford, Norfolk, which also played home to the original TV production. The town's mayor, Stuart Wright, told those gathered at a charity gala event on Friday: "We just hope that will pay reverence to the characters if they do make a film."
The Sunday Times reports that the film will be produced by Damian Jones (The Iron Lady) and directed by Oliver Parker (St Trinian's, Johnny English Reborn). The producers say the film has the "universal appeal" to be a box office hit again.
It has not yet been announced who will play the other main roles. Ian Lavender, who played young Private Pike, is last surviving main Dad's Army cast member. James Beck died in 1973, John Laurie in 1980, Arthur Lowe in 1982, John Le Mesurier in 1983, Arnold Ridley in 1984, Clive Dunn in 2012 and Bill Pertwee in 2013.
Speaking to BBC Radio this morning, Jimmy Perry made clear that he has no worries about a film starring different actors, having written two new stage versions of the series with David Croft, based on scripts of lost episodes. Touring from 2007 and from 2010, both productions were nationally successful. He said: "Don't forget one thing - about four or five years ago when David was alive - we wrote a special stage version. It toured for two years, filled all the theatres, but they were all [different] actors. They were just ordinary actors playing the parts, and it worked very well."
Twitter has seen an overwhelmingly negative response to the news. One fan, @ian_sargent, is hopeful, saying: "[The film] would be a good idea, it would be classed, I am sure as a remake, and in the past there have been some terrific remakes."
The majority of comments are far more apprehensive. @Gazz1975 says: "Leave well alone. A classic comedy such as Dad's Army can't be remade for now, just won't work. Bad idea." Another fan, @simonbayley, writes: "A biopic about the making of Dad's Army that's fine, but if they're trying to re-create the comedy show then it's a bad idea."
User @JackMurray2 added: "Bad idea. It was character driven & you will end up with a load of poor impersonations of such well known people."
Here is the audio of Jimmy Perry talking to 5 Live this morning:
Repeats of the original TV sitcom version of Dad's Army on BBC Two continue to prove popular, with ratings around 2 million. Here is the sitcom's most celebrated moment: