Image Credit: BBCNot if John Barrowman has anything to say about it.
Torchwood‘s leading man (and upcoming Desperate Housewives guest star) tells me it’s his strong preference that Fox’s in-the-works American version of his BBC smash would not tinker with his character’s sexuality.
”I hope wherever [the franchise] goes that the show stays the same,” says the openly gay Scottish thesp. “The last thing I would want would be for Jack to become this heterosexual, straight hero. He’s an omnisexual guy. He likes men, women, aliens, whatever. I think we should continue going down that route.”
Any effort to de-gay Capt. Jack would be followed by a “really big discussion,” Barrowman stresses, adding that it would ultimately be up to series creator Russell T. Davies and producing partner Julie Gardner to fight that battle.
Regarding the status of a U.S. version, Barrowman confesses that he has “no information” beyond what’s already been reported: That Fox has commissioned a script from Davies and that Barrowman would almost certainly slip back into his signature role. “Julie has said, as has Russell, that there will be no Torchwood without John Barrowman as Capt. Jack,” he says. “If I am asked to do Torchwood again, I will do it at the drop of a hat — whether it’s in America or back in Britain or if it’s for a film. I absolutely love Capt. Jack.”
they’d better not change Jack!
They probably won’t de-gay him, but they’d de-sex him – gay in name only.
Sadly, I think you’re right. He’ll be gay/omni-sexual in name only.
Don’t change a damn thing about Captain Jack Harkness! And how about bringing back Burn Gorman as Owen Harper too?
they won’t bring anyone into the show. As with all American remakes the whole cast will have an American accent and the show will prolly be a remake not a continuation.
i mean except John Borrowman.
They could take the gay out of the script, but they couldn’t stop him leering at every living thing he sees!
here here!!!
Waht is wrong with you Americans? I’m sorry but just today we have a retired US General saying that a massacre in Bosnia was caused because some of the UN soldiers were gay. Now, this character is being switched to straight for US audiences. When will you move into the 21st century and stop being so ridiculously homophobic?
They didn’t say the character would be straight. The article asks if they will make him straight. I’m guessing by your post, you never watched Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, All My Children or As the World Turns. All of those shows have gay cast members on them.
I agree with you, but to be fair, we aren’t all uptight. In fact, I think most aren’t that bad. It’s American TV that’s horrible in my opinion.
Haven’t you discovered via our media that we have a small rigid-thinking, fanatical branch of the far-right that have crowned themselves the Moral Police of the rest of us? They’ve attempted to convince networks, advertisers and our politicians that they represent all of middle America and each of these have given in rather than listen to their continual verbal assaults. When we lose both great tv AND liberties because of these it will be because of the adage, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” These pius do-gooders are our own American Taliban.
Not all Americans are close-minded. Unfortunately the bigots yell and whine, drowning out the rest of us.
It’ll happen the same time they give up being puritanical and xenophobic too. Here’s hoping for a better 22nd century, only 90 more years to go.
Well said!
I agree, as an American I am sick at the thought of changing anything about Torchwood. It perfection as it is!
I apologise, on behalf of my entire country, for the more ignorant members of our society. Please understand that we are not all homophobic, racist, ignorant, idiots. Fred Phelps is NOT our leader! I hope with all my heart that Jack Harkness will make love to, or at least flirt with, not only men, women, but strange aliens of any gender, species, or whatever, so long as he lives (quite a long time). Oh dear gods, did you say FOX was picking this show up??? We’re doomed. Anyone remember the Battle of Serenity? Fox should not be allowed anywhere near sci-fi!
Instead of worrying about changing the character, how about NOT attempting a remake of a perfectly fine show? It’s almost like there isn’t any creativity left where we have to remake past shows and successful imports to varying degrees of success/failure… But I guess the alternative is reality shows and that would be worse….. Well, if they have to think about tinkering with the character, how about making “Jack” an “omni-sexual” woman?
yeah, why mess with a good thing
It is not a remake, it is a continuation.
This is NOT being done as a ‘continuation’ of the British version–no one is claiming that the American “Torchwood” would be Season 4 of the present series (if indeed it gets an eventual green light). Davis and Garner made a big deal in the UK press when they left the creative team of both “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood.” What I still can’t believe is that they came to the States to do a remake rather than something new.
no kidding. he is an original. he is on of kind. He is my favorite character on tv
I think a great location for the US Torchwood base would be in the mountains of NC. The base was originally setup before the Civil War and this would account for the mysterious lights that people have been seeing in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley areas. Secondly, at some point we know there is a major physical chage coming for Capt Jack because he is the Face of Boes. He said that was his nickname in one episode of TW and we saw the Face of Boes die in a Doctor Who episode. I think the scifi community in the US is open minded enough for Capt Jack BUT would have to be on at 10p or 11p to get it by the censors.
They would need to be in or near a major US city.
DeeDee you mean The Face of Boe not Boes. There is only one Boeshane Peninsula, not two. Boe.
Also, FOX doesn’t have programming on at 10pm, so their latest time slot would be 9pm, so the Jack will be a little de-sexed at minimum to make the sensors happy. Bummer. Why not just use the BBC version? They can commission more to be made and split the cost with Auntie Beeb.
Just because fox is the production company does not mean that it will end up on fox station.
True fans will not watch if Fox decides to Americanize and homogenize the essence of Torchwood. I hope John Barrowman does not play Fox’s cardboard one dimensional character either!
ha! first! x)
Go someplace where this “first” crap makes a difference in the discussion and leave us.
That “someplace” has already plagerized the living daylights out of this article. Ain’t that cool?
i agree with kat. they had better not change him. jack is jack and we love him the way he is.
will boycott if they do
I’m so confused about the U.S. Torchwood. First I thought it was going to just be a different Torchwood base located in America with all original characters and stories. But is it actually a remake? And how is John Barrowman to be in both the US and UK variations?
Since the producers/writer/creator of Torchwood are making the US one, is there going to be a UK version anymore?
I had thought that they were supposed to be in pre-production on the latest season in the UK since January.
Definitely want Barrowman back as Captain Jack (either side of the pond) AND definitely want Capt Jack to remain the sexy omnisexual that he is!
I hate to state the obvious but I doubt FOX a Republican Network would ALLOW Capt.Jack to remain gay.
Which would TOTALLY ruin the integrity of the show.
Capt Jack is who he is the character should not be tampered with.
FOX Broadcasting isn’t Republican. FOX News–that’s up for debate. The majority of their opinion people are. (Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity etc.) They are ran very differently though.
Fox also has FX, which airs Nip/Tuck and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. So… yeah, not so conservative in the programming department.
EXACTLY
“FOX Broadcasting isn’t Republican.” How very naieve… and incorrect.
It’s “naive”. *winning smile*
“How very naieve [sic]…and incorrect.” How very knee-jerk liberal and wrong you are, Tarc.
don’t mess with success….leave capt. jack alone
If they changed the character AT ALL, I wouldn’t watch. I love RTD, but America always messes up these remakes, mostly because of politically charged crap like this.
I agree with Cindy, everytime they try to remake a British TV show, the American versions are terrible. About the only exception I can think of was “Three’s Company”, which was based on a British series, and was hugely popular for years. Why can’t American networks think of their own kind of series? It’s as if they’ve been braindead for the last few years and can’t think of anything original anymore.
Because to them, original means make a spin-off to SVU, CSI, NCIS or Criminal Minds. With the same characters played by different actors. With exciting episode plots I could solve faster than those top-notch agents/cops/lab techs (what are they doing on the field again?).
Oh, mindless fun, I’m your bitch.
All In The Family was based on a Britcom, too.
AND Sanford and Son, Dear John, Too Close for Comfort, Max Headroom, The Office and Queer As Folk…
the office remake was better. Though i agree about the remake idea, it is stupid it fine as a British show and should stay as such.
If I were John, and Fox wanted to “de-gay” Captain Jack, I’d tell them to find a new actor. Jack’s sexuality is one of the best aspects of his character. And his relationship with Ianto was one of the most heart-warming and heart-breaking pieces of the show.
Hope they bring Ianto to the American franchise as well. I could see Ming-Na taking over the Toshiko role.
um……Ianto can’t come back.
Because Torchwood is not, and has never been, a sci fi show.
and what makes you think it isn’t a scifi show?
and Ming-Na is involved in Stargate Universe right now
of course in a sci-fi show dead stay dead (roll eyes)
Yeah if that was the case in Stargate–Dr Daniel Jackson will be dead and not brought back to life 3 or 4 times–DUH PEOPLE
and in the case of Torchwood, we have Rhys Suzie and Owen but Ianto can’t come back of course.
And I agree with Stargate, I think it’s a good example.
But in Torchwood, RTD seem to believe sci-fi have another definition.
STARGATE
If you knew Stargate SG1, you would have known, that Dr. Daniel Jackson was never dead. He was ascented, and as a punishment for messing with his power, he was abonded from this way of living and brought back in his human form.
TORCHWOOD
Torchwood is a scifi show in every possible way – Aliens, Sciene, Fiction. Everything is there. Allthough it’s one of the best scifi shows.
Tiny hint to everyone: Check out “Sanctuary” with Amanda Tapping (Stargate) in the lead role. It’s a very good Canadian Scifi-Show!
stargateFAN, Daniel was not suppose to come back because when he do is ascented, he can’t come back to the human form and they replace him with Jonas. After he decide to stop Anubis but the other Elder have stop him and sent him back to his human form.
Sanctuary is really a good show. My point is I don’t understand why Ianto can’t come back when the resurrection have be done before (Owen, Rhys Suzie).
Ok in reply to the stargate thing.. Daniel did die many times… he had to die first before he became ascended or the time where they were all on the nox world and they were all killed by apohis’ jaffa and the nox had brought them all back to life.. that is just to name a few…
P.S if they change captain jack in any way… i will never watch it, and i am sure there are many fans who think that and they really can’t afford to lose any fans…
It’s not an issue of the dead staying dead in a scifi show. It’s the fact that the creator and producers of the original show firmly stated they will NOT bring Ianto back, despite all the fan campaigns and bitching and moaning that happened. Sad really.
Don’t mess with Captain Jack, FOX. Or you will answer to ME.
Since the cast has been narrowed to just Cap’n Jack and Gwen…why not just transfer those two characters ‘as is’ to an American version? The show is so great as it is, I don’t see how they could impreove on it.
y transfer it at all y not just keep it British?
Exactly, James, exactly. Are they going to make the characters American? Unlike some British shows that are re-made as American, the Dr. Who universe works just as well in USA as is and does not need to be “Americanized” like those programs mentioned above.
I totally agree that what made Capt. Jack so wonderful was that he loved the essence of a living being, regardless of their physical packaging. I don’t think I could watch any version of Torchwood without Barrowman though. That’d be like watching someone else play Han Solo.
They had better not!!! Love Captain Jack just the way he is (especially if they have a way hot Ianto character!!). This news made my day!! LOVE TORCHWOOD!!!!!