[21.15 - French Time] The CW announced today its 2010-2011 schedule. One of the network's new dramas is Nikita, starring Maggie Q (Mission Impossible III) in the title role. Originally Nikita was of course a 1990 movie directed by Luc Besson, with Anne Parillaud as a young criminal woman trained to be an assassin by a top-secret government agency. The story (written by Besson) was remade three years later in the US as Point of No Return, with Bridget Fonda.
In 1997 the movie(s) became a television series called La Femme Nikita (aka LFN) and produced in Toronto for USA Network, with Peta Wilson as Nikita. Roy Dupuis (a superstar in Quebec) played Michael, Eugene Robert Glazer was "Operations" - ruthless boss of Section One, Alberta Watson (The Sweet Hereafter) was his right-hand woman Madeline, etc.
The influence of La Femme Nikita is ostensible in series like the underestimated Quebecer drama Haute Surveillance (2000), Alias (2001) or 24 (2001), which owes a huge debt to the show. LFN was adapted by Joel Surnow, who co-created 24 with Robert Cochran. The composer of 24, Sean Callery, worked on the USA series and the early designs of CTU resemble Rocco Matteo's Section One.
The 2010 Nikita is co-exec produced by McG (Charlie's Angels, Chuck) and its pilot is directed by Danny Cannon. Among the other cast members, Shane West is the new Michael, Xander Berkeley is Percy (the new Operations?) and Melinda Clarke is Amanda (the new Madeline?) We have now more details in the CW's schedule press release and a clip is available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS89LTyEO64&feature=player_embedded).
LFN was a dark sophisticated spy thriller with great dialogues and deep characterization. Also, you cannot duplicate the alchemy between Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis or the subtle presence of Eugene Robert Glazer and Alberta Watson. Beyond La Femme Nikita it's not Nikita, it's a Mission: Impossible.
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http://www.deadline.com/2010/05/cw-announces-2010-11-schedule/ (With Press release)
1 comment:
"Also, you cannot duplicate the (...) subtle presence of Eugene Robert Glazer and Alberta Watson."
Absolutely agree. Alberta Watson as Madeline... ahhhhh! That's delightful to watch
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