Producers of the BBC's Sherlock series, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, have said they will take necessary action if the American production Elementary has too many similarities.
'We understand that CBS are doing their own version of an updated Sherlock Holmes', said executive producer at Hartswood Films Sue Vertue.
'We are very proud of our show and like any proud parent, will protect the interest and wellbeing of our offspring,' she told The Independent.
Ms Vertue said that CBS had made an offer to the BBC 'a while back' about filming a remake of the series but nothing had come of it.
Source: Daily Mail
Sherlock - Producer Talks About Elementary
Jan 21, 2012
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Interesting that they asked to remake Sherlock, but have decided instead to do their own version. I didn't realise that they had approached the BBC originally, lol.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what the been can do outside of the specific inventions introduced on sherlock (moriarty behind study in scarlet, h.o.u.n.d etc) sherlock homes and ask his characters and stories are long out of copyright so anyone can do their own version. Theoretically ITV could announce "Holmes" tomorrow and auntie would have no come back. Not saying it's a good idea but in a world where we got grimm and once upon a time (fairytales are real and here in 2012) in the same year (one from a network who were in active deferment of fables not so long ago) we shouldn't be surprised if cbs decided their take was different enough to not pay moffat and co.
ReplyDeleteBeeb. All his characters.development not deferment. Stupid bloody phone
ReplyDeletenot happy about this remake... more so than usual!
ReplyDeleteMeh. Sherlock Holmes wasn't created by Moffatt and Gatiss and has been twisted, played with and updated dozens of times. Being upset about this is about as worthwhile as being upset about the Moffatt version because you were a fan of any of the hundreds of other incarnations.
ReplyDeleteNormally I'd agree with you, but the fact that they asked to remake Sherlock first and then baulked at how much it would cost makes me think it does smell a bit fishy :( There's newer additions that are considered new copyright, such as Watson's blog, the clothes update for example, I guess they will be keeping an eye out for that.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree.
ReplyDeleteCBS can choose any popular literary figure to remake. I have no issue with them redoing a program because BBC has already done it and rather well.
The concept of an updated Sherlock appeals to me and did BEFORE BBC did it honestly. I hated the steampunk trash that is the Holmes movies. I thought it could have been done so much better if they changed the era and not changed the character completely. BBC did it right and did it better!
My issue will be with how CBS ruins it by making it a dumbed down procedural.
Mostly I just want this show to fail before it even begins
ReplyDeleteCBS doesn't dumb down everything but you run that risk with anything. Network American television is incredibly procedural because they produce 22 episodes, whereas the BBC only does 3 episodes a season. The current Sherlock incarnation would surely become tired and dumbed down if it attempted to write 19 more episodes per season. It's one of those things that it's the nature of the different styles of making television.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked updated Sherlock Holmes stories, probably because when I was a kid I used to watch a show called 'Shirley Holmes' where she was supposedly the granddaughter of Sherlock and solved crimes.
Considering they're all working off the same source material it doesn't matter whether it's a 'remake' of BBC's version or a new version since there are so many things that transfer easily.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the same as someone saying they hoped the BBC version would fail before it began because it was stealing ideas from countless other Sherlock Holmes incarnations, including updates. And then it turned out to be brilliant.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as Sherlock isn't its own original source material, there's not much they can do. I guess what they'd be looking at is similarity in the adaptation and episode content. Personally I think they should have skipped this and just remade the "Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century" cartoon into live action! That show was ace!
ReplyDeleteI want the CBS version to fail too. It's true that they have the right to make their own interpretation of Doyle's stories, but the timing is just kind of despicable. They're trying to make money of the BBC's success and not even hiding it. In 5 years, 10 years, I would have no problem with this at all. Just not now.
ReplyDeleteI loved that show! Still watch the old episodes of it!
ReplyDeleteI don't want CBS to fail,just give the viewers a fabulous program to watch,not necessarily a modern day Sherlock.They broached the subject matter with the BBC but it fails to say why it never went anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI honestly hope that CBS doesn't actually do this. To me it pretty much seems like a money-grabbing scheme because they've seen how popular BBC Sherlock is and want in on the profits. If CBS DOES actually produce Elementary then I for one won't watch it - I'm an American, but I'll be sticking to my BBC Sherlock, thanks very much.
ReplyDeleteYes, but as Sandi said, Watson for example can't have an online blog, that's BBC's copyright.
ReplyDeleteAs it's said in the article:
Margaret Tofalides, a copyright specialist at law firm Manches, said:
"The concept of a new Sherlock Holmes is unprotectable. But if the
unusual elements of the BBC series – the modern settings, characters,
clothes, plots and distinctive visual style – were closely reproduced in
the CBS version, that could form the basis of a potential copyright
claim."
As a remake, they could've used this. As their own show, they have to stay way, way away or they'll be accused of plagiarism.
Perhaps but this is CBS, it won't turn out to be brilliant, it will turn out to be boring and predictable. Any other network and I would be intrigued but CBS no.
ReplyDeletei don't get the 'remake' thing. sure if a movie or show was made decades ago one might make a remake to polish it up and bring it in touch with the current audience, but the bbc sherlock is already a remake of the books to bring sherlock forward to the 21st century. how can the usa make a remake of that? and y? y not just show the tv show as it is to the american audience? for frak's sake it wouldn't even need subs! last time i checked the british and the americans did speak (roughly) the same language... isn't the whole thing...redundant? if they're so hot to bring a book detective in the 21st cent there are always the agatha cristie collection of detectives (i'm pretty sure nobody gave them cellphones yet), not to mention their own dassiel hummet and raymond chandler detective books; i wouldn't say no to a 21st cent version of phillip marlow! :D show some initiative u people! u're wasting your time with things already made!
ReplyDeleteIt was to do with the money and the fact that BBC America have 'first dibs' on it afaik
ReplyDeleteI agree, esp when you see how many current American shows are already a modern Sherlock Holmes with a twist already, House, The Mentalist and Psych just for a start. I'd be far more behind this if they had chosen any other old detective stories, as you say Christie would be a perfect one since Murder She Wrote is no longer on.
ReplyDeleteSherlock isn't original source and copyright ended long ago. But there are many things that are copyrighted in the new adaptation which can't be used without permission :)
ReplyDeleteIt always comes to money,but the BBC America should have first dibs,I thought it would have naturally gone to the BBCA after its run on the BBC.Thanks for giving me the reason why.As a matter of fact they are running Luther today,and i can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteAmericans keep remaking things as there is already a pre-established
ReplyDeleteaudience for the material, which would be a major selling point and help
it get on the air faster than an original drama. It's a less risky
pitch than trying to get another procedural investigation show on air.
With the success of the Sherlock tv series, and then the Sherlock Holmes
movies at the box office, they feel it would be a great time to do
something with the property, rather than delve into other literary detectives.
I don't think they could show Sherlock for american audiences, except on
BBC America, as american networks want a show that will run for 24
episodes each season. The network would want the show to get to
syndication, so the show's episodes could then be sold to other
networks. The fact CBS approached BBC and then came up with Elementary
on their own has to be looked at, as CBS obviously didn't want to pay
BBC any remake rights, etc.
Could anyone here see Sherlock deal with crimes within a 40 minute
episode? Then Moriarty will appear in a few episodes thoughout the
series as the show's big mythology episodes. The series will mimic shows
like Sandi said, like House, like Psych, and like Castle. Like any
other procedural crime drama.....only this time, it's Sherlock Holmes!
Agreed. Should the makers of the Basil Rathebone movies sue BBC?
ReplyDeleteSherlock in America is shown on PBS. Google it if you don't believe me.
ReplyDeleteLove Sherlock so have no interest at all in any re-imagining of it that CBS chooses to do.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. The 22 episodes-thing is why they can't pick up the BBC-Sherlock and the 22-episode is why BBC didn't want to give it to CBS for cheap. Because 22-episodes of 40 minutes totally destroys the whole literary quality of the story. The BBC ones run for 90 minutes each and they're not that slow paced in my mind. With the mashing up going on you will be through the source material in around one season, right? And what then, do we get cheap plots in 40 minutes instead of the carefully crafted mysterias? The characterization will suffer a lot as there's just not enough time to let Watson and Sherlock interact, right?
ReplyDeleteIn the end, I just fear that the Sherlock character on CBS will "devolve" into a Monk-like character. Not that he's bad, but in order to notice all the crazy little things, he does kinda have some deficits in social relations. Also somehow in the mentalist. Do we really need an outsider supergenius crime-solver?