Recasting Rebus

[scotchmi5t]

Sorry my head has been kinda buried in the sand - the series has been cut? I thought Ken Stott made a brilliant Rebus.

[mysterybuff2009]

Hello, new to this. I have seen all of the Rebus series, prefer Ken Stott. I do think that there is a physicalness that is required. I love Robert Carlyle but do not feel he is the best for the part, too well known and hard to see him as the imposing Rebus. I think that they need someone who looks world weary and beaten, someone who has seen everything. Maybe George Harrow or Ray Winstone (Yes I know he is English but his is the type that fits). I would just like to see more and I think that the BBC would be the right venue. This from a Canadian!!

[den]

The problem with Brian Cox and some of the others mentioned is... they are too old. Cox is 63 and would be ideal for a retired Rebus. Gordon Pinset is almost 80!!!

But Gary Lewis is certainly an interesting choice.

PS: Yes Ken Stott is finished as Rebus. (The series was ghastly anyway)

[rodneymarshall]

The problem with the tv series, as others have observed, is that the scripts frequently have nothing to do with the books and are incredibly dumbed down. Watch the Branagh Wallander episodes and they perfectly recapture the original novels. Unfortunately, Rebus episodes have little - and occessionally nothing - to do with Rankin's wonderful novels.

[lucy]

I know what you mean, Rodney. I think the dramas were "loosely" based on the novels. I also found the time very confusing too. For example, in the drama they did of Strip Jack, it was based in the present day. (i.e, 2008) but Strip Jack was written .. gosh, I can't remember now - but it was one of the early novels; mid 90s at least. I didn't like that. I think they should have did an "Ashes To Ashes" thing and made it with the same time as the novels. (The novels that were written early, I mean.) It would have been cool to see people with perms, big glasses and red lipstick.
But perhaps its good the dramas weren't actually totally based on the book. Its nice they have a loose idea I guess .. Because if they had tried to get it exactly right, Ian might have been cursing like Agatha Christie.

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[Sandy Jamieson]

Im watching Douglas Henshaw on "Collision" at the moment and tend to agree with some earlier posters that he could be a convincing Rebus (as long as he "lost" his Weegie accent!!)

[den]

Oddly one can think of some non scots ideal in the role. Brendan Gleeson or Ray Winstone...

[jefflobster]

Ken Stott was wonderful as Rebus. He did deserve longer and more faithful adaptions. Before I discovered the existing Rebus BBC DVDs here in America, when ever I watched Ian McShane (in HBO's Dead Wood) or Stellan Skarsgard (even when he was in Mama Mia!), I kept thinking either of those two would make an excellent Rebus. Plus, to entice either of them, it would have to be a super high quality production

[den]

McShane is 67 !

[Mobbs62]

There have been many suggestions on who else could play him but, Ken Stott is Rebus. It was just the same with Morse, Sherlock Holmes. I think that there are certain stars who become the role they are portraying and it should remain that way ?.