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'Friday Night Lights' EP Peter Berg targets wider audience with 'Prime Suspect,' talks film continuation
Executive producer and director Peter Berg was conspicuously quiet during the Television Critics Association summer press tour panel for his new series, a reboot of '90s UK mini "Prime Suspect."
And when he did finally chime in, it was to talk about his dearly departed "Friday Night Lights," which recently ended its five-season run on NBC.
Calling his time on "FNL" "extremely rewarding and frustrating," Berg insists that character-based storytelling in his new venture won't get in the way of finding a wider audience.
"What we learned from 'Friday Night Lights' is that it's great to have all that, but let's give them a really gruesome murder in each episode," he says. "Let's be clever about how we solve it, but lets make sure we solve it."
Speaking of the former's recent finale, which aired for a second time on NBC after completing its run on DirecTV, Berg noted how odd it was to have the last three seasons of air twice for different audiences.
"People were so confused," he says. "They [told me], we thought your show was over. And we saw it again... The DirecTV/NBC deal was a unique deal, it was a bizarre deal, it kept the show alive."
And the show might still have some life left in it. TVLine reports that Berg is moving ahead with previously rumored plans for a film continuation of the series (which itself started as a book and feature film), starring Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton.
Script-writing is apparently underway, with a 2012 shoot in mind if all goes according to plan.
Would you like to see Eric and Tami Taylor tackle the big screen -- or were you satisfied by the series' send-off?
And when he did finally chime in, it was to talk about his dearly departed "Friday Night Lights," which recently ended its five-season run on NBC.
Calling his time on "FNL" "extremely rewarding and frustrating," Berg insists that character-based storytelling in his new venture won't get in the way of finding a wider audience.
"What we learned from 'Friday Night Lights' is that it's great to have all that, but let's give them a really gruesome murder in each episode," he says. "Let's be clever about how we solve it, but lets make sure we solve it."
Speaking of the former's recent finale, which aired for a second time on NBC after completing its run on DirecTV, Berg noted how odd it was to have the last three seasons of air twice for different audiences.
"People were so confused," he says. "They [told me], we thought your show was over. And we saw it again... The DirecTV/NBC deal was a unique deal, it was a bizarre deal, it kept the show alive."
And the show might still have some life left in it. TVLine reports that Berg is moving ahead with previously rumored plans for a film continuation of the series (which itself started as a book and feature film), starring Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton.
Script-writing is apparently underway, with a 2012 shoot in mind if all goes according to plan.
Would you like to see Eric and Tami Taylor tackle the big screen -- or were you satisfied by the series' send-off?
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Photo/Video credit: NBC-Universal
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You know, I'd be happy with a movie if they managed to get everyone back for it and the story is actually good (not really any doubt it will be). But as soon as a single recast has to happen I'm out.
But who knows..I'm still holding out hope for a Veronica Mars movie, maybe this movie doing well could help with getting that..
So we have Berg's comments that say nothing new about the movie. Then we have an un-referenced claim that scriptwriting is 'apparently' underway with a 2012 shoot in mind. BASED ON WHAT SOURCES?!
Great journalism, Mikey O'Connell
why would you make a movie for a TV show that had such a miniscule audience? nobody was watching it for free, what makes you think anyone would pay to see it. did nobody learn anything from firefly/serenity?
why does that matter if no one will see it. Many movies get made every year that don't make much money! Movies don't have to made just to be blockbusters. FNL would be like a small indie flick and $$ expectations would not be high. Its also about quality. Technically that is all that matters. The business side is just the vehicle that makes content and would prefer profit but sometimes you have to make the content to honor/ keep integrity in the art itself. Doesn't matter if no one watches. I want high quality content made and if the prestige factor of the tv show alone gets this made then that is totally legitment and likely important if we want high quality content to still be made in the future.
I'm sorry it was perfect. It was done. I don't see the point in doing a movie. There was a movie done once. as much as I love.. and I DO MEAN LOVE Tami and Eric, they rode off into the sunset..
I don't think I could watch them in .. pennsylvania.
I'd love to see more FNL, but it's a problem script, isn't it? The original actors are now looking too old to play high school football players, and their careers are taking them to interesting new places. Do we have a new set of young characters with Coach and Tami? Do we go back to Texas and recast the old roles with younger faces? Do we have one of those annoying reunion movies where we see the old characters living new, scattered lives? I don't envy Berg right now!
I'd love to see more FNL, but it's a problem script, isn't it? The original actors are now looking too old to play high school football players, and their careers are taking them to interesting new places. Do we have a new set of young characters with Coach and Tami? Do we go back to Texas and recast the old roles with younger faces? Do we have one of those annoying reunion movies where we see the old characters living new, scattered lives? I don't envy Berg right now!