You would think that a film from director Danny Boyle, writer John Hodge (based on the novel by Alex Garland), and star Leonardo DiCaprio is a sure-thing. However, back in 2000, the collaboration between those talented folks, titled “The Beach,” not only didn’t strike a chord with critics but is one of the worst reviewed projects in the careers of each of them (it currently holds a dismal 20% on Rotten Tomatoes). That being said, there’s still a contingent of fans that hold the film dear to their hearts, which may explain why Boyle is floating the idea of a TV series based on the film.
According to a new interview with The Independent, Boyle says that development of a TV series based on “The Beach” is still happening. And not only that, the filmmaker says that he’s brought on Amy Seimetz to spearhead the series, with the hopes that a network like FX will be interested.
“‘The Beach’ may come back,” Boyle said. “[Seimetz] has taken ‘The Beach’ and made a prequel for television. It’s the same character but it’s set now, so 20 years later – it’s a bit of a headfuck.”
He continued, “It’s intriguing when you see it. I’ve read the first two scripts. I don’t know if they’ll have the courage to do it at FX, but you never know.”
At first, you probably read that quote and think, “A prequel set 20 years after the film?” While you may chalk it up to a slip of the tongue, odds are that he means exactly what he said. If you think about it, with “The Beach” not being so well-received by critics and being largely forgotten by film fans, if you want to make a series about the character in the film, why not set it in the present day? That way, you’re not creating a period piece set in the ‘70s. Instead, you can set it in 2019, and have it talk about the events that led up to the film. Hell, you could even adapt the events of the film into a future season, disregarding the film.
Either way, with Seimetz involved, color me intrigued. She’s an established actress, most recently appearing in the film “Pet Sematary.” However, Seimetz has made a pretty great name for herself as a filmmaker with stints on “The Girlfriend Experience” and “Atlanta,” just to name a couple. She sounds like a great person to lead “The Beach.”
FX is a network that is known for taking chances, so “The Beach” fits pretty well with the network’s lineup. Plus, as an added bonus, it would pair quite well with Alex Garland’s upcoming series “Devs.” So, why not?
