Another day, another TV reboot.
Russell T. Davies, creator of the original U.K. version of the hit TV show Queer as Folk, tells Variety he’s rebooting the series for Bravo.
The original U.K. version of QAF ran for 10 episodes between 1999 and 2000 and starred Game of Thrones’ Aidan Gillen, Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam, and Craig Kelly, as three young gay men living in Manchester.
The North American remake, set in Pittsburgh, premiered in 2000 on Showtime and ran for a total of five seasons. It starred Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, Hal Sparks, Peter Paige, and Scott Lowell.
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Davies describes the new Bravo reboot as a “modern take on the original British series that centers on a group of club-going friends who find support in the gay community following a tragedy.” The series will center around a whole new cast of characters in a completely different setting.
Meanwhile, executive producers Daniel Lipman and Ron Cowen, who created the Showtime version of QAF, tell Entertainment Weekly they “shared ideas for stories” with Davies but ultimately decided they don’t want to be a part of any revival.
“This was a show about young people trying to find their way,” says Lipman. “Now we’d have a cast who are all mature. So that would be a totally, totally different kind of show.”
Lipman continues, “If somebody wanted Queer as Folk, that kind of energy, you’d have to go back and you’d have to cast young people. And with Tinder and Grindr, it’s a very, very different world than it used to be.”
In addition to creating QAF, Davies wrote and produced the BBC-Amazon miniseries “A Very English Scandal” starring Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw, which recently nabbed three Golden Globe nominations, including best limited series.
Related: Are you ready for a “Queer As Folk” reunion? Because it’s ready for you.
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Gigi Gee
Exciting! Loved the U.K. version.
Donston
It was very much a show of its time and only reflective of a very small percentage of homosexual/homo-leaning/gay people. While the US remake was mostly awful and tacky (from what I watched). And many shows have cribbed off it. But hey, they’re remaking/reboot practically everything.
Catholicslutbox
The first few episodes weren’t bad, but those were the ones based on the UK series.
It progressively got worse and eventually hit that unwatchable point.
I watched because there was nothing else with gays in it.
Chrisk
Jesus. Another one? I have no interest in watching a vapid bunch of millennials in another queer as folk.
I think it’d be kind of cool though to have the American queer as folk cast come back. Post club life.
Chrisk
I always thought Looking was a great follow of QAF. Showtime just didn’t put enough into it though. 🙁
Donston
You mean HBO. And yes, Looking was a solid enough series.
I also want to see a quality show that’s more than just a group of young and pretty people clubbing and hooking up and dealing with “self-discovery”. Something that’s actually highlighting people dealing with their careers, dealing with past traumas and mental strife, dealing with parenting, dealing with marriage, dealing with real romantic/relationship dynamics, dealing with aging, etc. But I have a feeling that that’s not gonna be this reboot. Still, if the reviews are passable I’ll probably check it out.
Catholicslutbox
looking was a lot of fun but it was too real/authentic of a show for it to be a success.
It lacked the idiotic contrived drama that other tv shows…even “reality” shows..have- which translated to the show being “boring.”
HBO also put tons of effort into it. They gave it a second season despite low ratings and a movie to wrap up the series.
TheBigOne
Somebody needs to bring back ‘Cucumber’ PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, it would be awesome to see Littlefinger and Jax Teller have a go at it lol.
ptb2016
Oh boy, what happened to original ideas? This show was mind blowing when it was first broadcast on Channel 4 in the U.K. we’d never seen anything like it, an honest refelection Of gay club life and the anxieties we’ve all shared. But it was very much in and of its time. Things are so different now. I mean it’s 20 years! And is there another cutie like Charlie Hunnam was out there? Impossible! As for the American soap version, the least said the better!
john.k
Remember too that in the original version Nathan, played by Charlie Hunnam, was supposed to be 15. You can imagine the fuss that would cause now!
Caine
Daniel Lipman and Ron Cowen didn’t have a clue what they were doing with the American version. The moment they ran out of Davies scripts they were lost.
I would LOVE to see Davies new take on it. I kindof wish it wasn’t going to be on basic cable though so it would have more freedom for nudity and language.
Bromancer7
I’m game for another go at this. The UK version was far superior to the US (as they mostly are), and Davies’ work has always been top-notch (unlike his US counterparts). So as long as Bravo let’s him freely do his thing it should be pretty good.
Nothing wrong with another gay-oriented show on mainstream TV.
phuquall
The UK version was trash. You have shit taste
Catholicslutbox
Not when compared to the us version
Geeker
I never watched the first two and I doubt I’ll watch this one.
surreal33
Maybe Hollywood producers are not aware however the average age in America is 38 therefore, another show about snot-nose, winey, queens might not be the best idea.
Catholicslutbox
advertisers, the people that fund the shows, don’t give two sh–s about people over the age of 34.
djmcgamester
I own the original UK series and the soundtracks. Not sure it’s begging for a reboot.
tad_boomer
Producers of the current spate of reboots are banking on a younger audience who probably haven’t seen the original series. For them, it will be new but for us older folks, there will be nothing that tops the original.
Instead of reboots, I’d rather see some development of independent LGBT movies. It’s unfortunate that such a talented community has so many movies that are 3 stars instead of 5 simply for the fact that it is so hard to get funding.
yaletownman
I loved the UK version but I’m not sure about a reboot. We will just have to see. The U.S. version’s writing was so cheesey and the acting so second rate that it came off like a bad corporate training film at times. I guess they felt like they needed to make sure the public was educated but it didn’t make for a great show.
michel_banen
I really liked both the UK and the USA versions.