Interview with author Simon Beckett
On January 12th, 2022 "Simon Becketts The Chemistry of Death" starts on Paramount+ with its first season. It is an adaptation of Simon Beckett's successful novel "The Chemistry of Death" about protagonist David Hunter. We got the chance to interview him beforehand and talk about the adaptation.
© Rowohlt Verlag
12 January 2023 by Lena Donth
Here's a German translation of the interview.
Die Serie "Simon Becketts Die Chemie des Todes" ansehen:
Mr. Beckett, it's been almost 20 years since you published "The Chemistry of Death". How do you feel about the world you created being adapted for a TV series and to see forensic anthropologist David Hunter on screen?
I'm very pleased, obviously. It's been very exciting. It's been a long time coming and there has been times where you obviously think it's not going to happen and then it goes from there. So, yes I'm delighted and it's great seeing characters and stories, that I dreamed of, now making it onto the TV screens.
In which capacity were you involved in creating this adaptation?
I was involved in a sort of consultancy basis. I was more involved in the early stages, when things are first being set up and arranged. I read a couple of early scripts and drafts but then I stepped back from it basically because there comes a point where you realize that it's a distraction for me because I wanted to write more books, obviously. And I didn't think me breathing over the production's shoulder was going to be helping their side. So after a while I stepped back and let them go on with it. I was more involved again the year when I visited the set. I was kept in the loop about casting and things like that. It's been an interesting process and an enjoyable one.
In the fact sheet by Paramount+ I saw that you visited the shooting in Norfolk and it was your first visit since your previous research work. How was the return and how did you experience the shooting process?
It was good. As you say the last time I visited Norfolk was when I was actually in the process of writing the story so to go along the next time all these years later and to actually see physical recreations of scenes that I wrote about was quite a surreal experience. I don't want to give much away but I went on to one of the sets created for one of the climactic scenes of the novel and that was very strange. It gave me chills actually seeing something I described in the books now being a physical place. So yeah it was strange but it was good.
Simon Beckett speaks about his set visit in Norfolk and the adaptation of his books (January 2023).
I read in an interview with your German publisher Rowohlt that you preferred a series adaptation instead of a movie. In view of the completed series do you feel vindicated in your prognosis?
I think so. Films are a fantastic medium. But when it comes to adapting a novel, a long form TV series like this they give the stories and characters more time to expand. I think it's very difficult to condense a novel, call it a 100 000 words, into a short period of time as you often find in films. TV series ideally give the story more room to breathe. So yes and hopefully people will agree with me.
© Paramount
You also spoke about a possible actor for David Hunter and you didn't wilfully name anyone. How do you feel about Harry Treadaway as the lead actor and how he brings David Hunter to life?
I think Harry Treadaway is very good as David Hunter. In the past I've been very careful. In the books I've never described David Hunter. There is no physical description of him at all. I wanted to leave it up to the readers to form their own idea of what he looked like. It was more about the qualities of the character that I wanted to come from the page and I think Harry Treadaway does that admirably. He does an excellent job. I felt he brought Hunter to life.
I got to see the first three episodes and was quite surprised that "The Chemistry of Death" AND "Written in Bone" were adapted because I didn't catch the info beforehand. Was this always the plan or did it change during the creative process?
I don't think that it was always the plan. As I was saying I was more involved in the early stages. I read the drafts of "The Chemistry of Death", of the Norfolk section. Check with the producers about this, I think it was an idea to bring "Written in Bone" in as well. I have not seen all of the episodes yet, but from what I've seen it absolutely worked because it gave a sense of continuation to the story. Again by not giving too much away there is a big gap between the end of "The Chemistry of Death" (the novel) and the beginning of "Written in Bone". And I think what the producers have done now is the two of them being bridged, so there is more of a continuation of David and his story between the two. So from what I've seen, I could see the point in that.
If Paramount+ renewed "Simon Becketts The Chemistry of Death" do you already know what the future plans would be?
I have no idea. I think let's see how the first season does. It would be nice if they continued with the books but I don't know what form that would take.
For your German book fans: can you reveal what will be published next? Maybe the next book in your series about Jonah Colley?
I'm actually working on the next David Hunter novel at the moment. Having taken a break from writing David Hunter to writing the first Jonah Colley novel and now I'm taking a break from Jonah Colley to go back to David Hunter.
As myFanbase is an online magazine about TV shows we are always curious to hear what other people are watching. What are you currently watching or what is your all-time favourite TV series?
Oh, I don't think I have an all-time favourite. I think there are so many fantastic shows coming at the moment. A while ago I've watched something called "Midnight Mass" which is a little bit different. It's a very subtle, moody and thoughtful horror on Netflix which I thought was excellent. And also "Slow Horses" which is an adaptation of Mick Herron's first novel which is very good. Been enjoying that. So a variety of things. So the new age of streaming is the ideal of long form TV series. It is opening it up as a medium hugely. I think it's great.
Lena Donth - myFanbase
Kommentare
Meistgelesen
Aktuelle Kommentare
20.11.2024 15:18 von Catherine
Liebeskolumnen: Rory & Dean, Teil 3
Ich glaube, es wurde während des "Gilmore... mehr
22.11.2024 21:56 von Chili_vanilli
Cruel Intentions: Cruel Intentions
Hat schon jemand reingeschaut? Bin akutell bei Folge 1... mehr