Recasting Rebus

[den]

With the Ken Stott series thankfully dead... ( Don't get me wrong, Stott was great but the rest?)

I keep myself asking if the Beeb, HBO or someone would do Rebus proper. Or even they do a real movie. Who should they cast? There are few Scottish actors in the right age group (40ies to mid 50ies).

Somehow I don't see Dougray Scott, Ewan MacGregor or Gerard Butler as Rebus... Nor Peter Capaldi.

Peter Mullan?
Robert Carlyle?

[Mobbs62]

I'm not sure whether Rebus would transfer to the Big Screen. If the BBC were to take it on - how about Douglas Henshall ?.

[den]

Actually the more I think about it, Carlyle might be the best big name choice. But would the Beeb get him?

[twinlorna]

I am thrilled to learn that some books have been adapted for television,but don't know if any have aired in the US.I will certainly contact my local PBS station.
There are so many wondreful British actors who would be great as Rebus that the adaptations should continue.I imagine most actors would love the challenge of such a multi faceted character.

[anit73]

hi guys, they should definitely do Rebus films - I would watch all of them . Not sure who should be best for his role however there is so many great actors out there, I'm sure at least one of them would be as brillaint as Rankin's writting

[twinlorna]

I think den has the answer.Peter Mullan would be great as Rebus on the big screen.And rather than have it based on a book in the series,Mr Rankin could write an original screenplay.Sounds a bit far fetched,i guess,but the world of Rebus is so fascinating.

[runeram]

With the Ken Stott series thankfully dead... ( Don't get me wrong, Stott was great but the rest?)

I keep myself asking if the Beeb, HBO or someone would do Rebus proper. Or even they do a real movie.

I would love a recast of Rebus, based on the books written by Ian Rankin, NOT a new "we take a successful novel and make a completely other story of it" as the Ken Stott series (and in a less degree) the John Hannah series) was. My dream would be a mini serie or something with three or four episodes based on each book - that way there would be at least a possibility to get some of the atmosphere from the books that the Stott series completely lacks. But I do see that such a serie perhaps would be for the die-hard Rebus fans, and perhaps not attract the common watchers in the same way, so it would probably only happen in my dreams.

As to the question "Who should play Rebus?" I'm not sure that the physical appearance of the person really is so important, as long as the person can adapt into the Rebus person from the books. I do for instance believe Ken Stott would have been a fantastic Rebus if he had been allowed to play Rebus and not a clown.

Rune

[jeffreyneilchambers]

I think David Royle from Dalziel and Pascoe would make a great younger Rebus at least. I realise that might be because he looks like Rankin though! I agree about Ken Stott - great actor and nice bloke but utterly unlike my picture of Rebus - SAS? Nah.

[BarryMc81]

I'm not sure whether Rebus would transfer to the Big Screen. If the BBC were to take it on - how about Douglas Henshall ?.

Isn't Douglas Henshall from Paisley and blonde? Didn't Ian say he would really want someone from Edinburgh to play Rebus? I remember him from 'Lipstick on your Collar' as the nasty wee solider boy, but I do think he would play Rebus really well. I think he would be much better than Doungray Scott or Gerard Butler - in either format.

He is old enough to be approximate to the character age (wee bit of a stretch I know), but young enough that he would relate to a younger audience.

[Listre113]

Got to be "Carlyle"..