British comedy show Dad’s Army gets cinema reboot with Zeta-Jones, Gambon
Top cast sign up for big-screen revival of '70s TV serial about small-town unit of wartime civilian Home Guard against invasion led by the pompous Captain Mainwaring. Actor from original show gives film his blessing
Popular British television show Dad’s Army gets a cinema reboot this week in a new comedy hoping to garner the same laughs the sitcom did nearly 40 years after it ended.
The BBC show, which ran from 1968 to 1977, followed the antics of an incompetent Home Guard platoon in the fictional English town of Walmington-on-Sea during the second world war. It is now a TV re-run stalwart.
Jones, who plays the pompous Captain Mainwaring, said he was not originally interested in taking part in the reboot until other cast members were revealed.
"'Good luck with that, I hope it all works out for you. That sounds like a really bad idea to me.’ That’s my first response to that,” he said.
Veteran actor Tom Courtenay, who plays Corporal “Don’t Panic” Jones, also said he thought the movie “seemed a better idea” once he knew the likes of Harry Potter actor Gambon and Scottish actor Bill Paterson were on board.
Oscar winner Zeta-Jones plays mysterious journalist Rose Winters who arrives unexpectedly to the seaside town.
“It’s always fun to play the femme fatale, and you know, on what side is she on, is she good is she bad ... you find that out in the movie,” she said.
Dad’s Army is released in US and UK cinemas on Friday.
Reuters
