BBC The War of the Worlds

BBC The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds written in 1897 is a novel by HG Wells, it’s one of the earliest books to tell the story of a conflict between mankind and an extraterrestrial race. In the book the aliens are Martians who fight in three legged walking fighting machines.

Back in January 2018 I blogged about the forthcoming BBC production of The War of the Worlds.

The BBC’s interpretation of the HG Wells 1897 classic will begin filming in spring 2018 and air later on BBC One.

Unlike more recent interpretations this will be set in the period it was published, so faithful to the Victorian era.

We do know that it will be three sixty minute episodes.

BBC One have announced the show will be arriving on our screens Autumn 2019 – not during the Christmas period as many expected.

BBC The War of the Worlds

Director Craig Viveiros said. “This is the first version to be set in London and [its environs] during the Edwardian period.”

BBC The War of the Worlds

This version stars Eleanor Tomlinson and Rafe Spall. Robert Carlyle and Rupert Graves are also set to star alongside them.

The trailer arrives on Sunday!

One of my favourite Osprey books is about the War of the Worlds. This is a historical record of the Anglo-Martian war of 1895.

War of the Worlds (Dark Osprey)

On one terrible night in August 1895, the world changed forever. Grey metal cylinders, launched from Mars and hurtled through space, came crashing down in southern England. The next 15 days were marked by courage and despair, hope and shock, defeat and fleeting victory as Queen Victoria’s army struggled to contain the terrible alien threat. The war, man against machines from space, was fought without mercy on both sides. And the outcome would be decided by the smallest of things. This book covers the whole of the Anglo-Martian conflict, beginning with a look at the relative strengths and weakness of the two armies, both English and alien, and comparing the different strategies employed. It then takes a detailed look at the actual military struggle, covering all of the major engagements between the tripods and Victoria’s army.

I have been thinking about since purchasing the book gaming scenarios pitting Edwardian Brits against the Martian invaders.




BBC Production of War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds
The BBC’s interpretation of the HG Wells 1897 classic will begin filming in spring 2018 and air later on BBC One.

Unlike more recent interpretations this will be set in the period it was published, so faithful to the Victorian era.

Since the news was announced last summer we’ve heard very little about the production. We do know that it will be three sixty minute episodes.

It’s being made by the same production company, Mammoth Screen, which made Victoria for ITV. Now I’ve watched a few episodes of that series and there are some great production values there, I was especially impressed with the CGI recreation of Victorian London.

We know now that pre-production is now underway with filming set to take place in Liverpool and Cheshire. There is also going to be filming in Surrey which is where the invasion starts in the book.

Personally I think it’s a great idea and I am really looking forward to the series when it is transmitted later in 2018.

War of the Worlds

it’s okay…

Saw Spielberg’s War of the Worlds on Friday night which stars Tom Cruise.

In many ways it is a summer blockbuster in the traditions of Jurassic Park, however I thought it was okay.

Maybe I was expecting more from the film, maybe I was hoping that it would be excellent.

Maybe my view was coloured by the fact that I like the concept behind H G Wells’ original book and would like to have seen it set in England in the 19th Century (though there is the Pendragon production).

For some reason I could not see Tom Cruise as a believable blue collar worker. Tim Robbins was rather wasted as well.

The effects were good, but a film has to be more than effects.

It was okay, I did enjoy it, but it was not a film to remember.

Spielberg’s War of the Worlds Trailer now online…

I mentioned in a previous post that Steve Spielberg was making a film version of War of the Worlds.

You can now watch the trailer online and visit the official website.

Alas it is set in the modern day (and there I was hoping it would be a 19th Century version) and the trailer does not tell you much at all….

…oh and the film stars Tom Cruise!

Spielberg's War of the Worlds Trailer now online…

I mentioned in a previous post that Steve Spielberg was making a film version of War of the Worlds.
You can now watch the trailer online and visit the official website.
Alas it is set in the modern day (and there I was hoping it would be a 19th Century version) and the trailer does not tell you much at all….
…oh and the film stars Tom Cruise!