A format for children and the name Nicolas Winding Refn (52) – that doesn’t go together at all at first and second. After all, the Danish filmmaker prefers to stage violent excesses drenched in neon light on the screen. And yet Winding Refn was chosen to breathe new life into the cult series “Famous Five” by the English children’s book author Enid Blyton (1897-1968). According to the US and German media, it is a co-production between BBC and ZDF.
Accordingly, Winding Refn will be the creator and producer of three feature-length episodes (90 minutes) – comparable to how the “Sherlock” series with Benedict Cumberbatch (46) and Martin Freeman (51) was handled. Meanwhile, Tim Kirkby (52) is directing all three episodes. The Briton has already made a name for himself through his directing work on the acclaimed series “Fleabag” with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (37) and most recently on the Netflix series “The Pentaverate” with Mike Myers (60).
The “Famous Five” books, originally “The Famous Five”, began in 1942 with “Famous Five Explore Treasure Island” – more than 20 other original editions by Blyton followed. The novel was adapted into a series in both the 1970s and 1990s, and several films were recently made. The story of the four friends Georgina, Julian, Richard and Anna, who experience adventures together with the dog Timmy, is always told.
Nicolas Winding Refn is primarily located in the psychological thriller genre, preferably with a horror twist. He has already proven this in works such as “Drive” and “Only God Forgives” with Ryan Gosling (42), “Bronson” with Tom Hardy (45) or “The Neon Demon” with Elle Fanning (25). All of his films and series are characterized by a very special visual style, which he says is due to a handicap – the director is color blind in the middle color spectrum and therefore works with high contrasts.
There is no broadcast date for the new edition of “Famous Five” yet, but shooting in Great Britain has already started, it is said.
