William Hurt to star in space shuttle docu-drama for BBC2
Hollywood icon William Hurt is to play US physicist Richard Feynman in a factual drama about the space shuttle Challenger's mid-air explosion in 1986, which killed all seven crew members. The as yet untitled drama, which is being backed by BBC2 and The Discovery Science Channel in the US, will explore Feynman's efforts to uncover the truth behind the tragedy.
Commenting, Kim Shillinglaw, BBC commissioning editor, science and natural history, said: "This is the gripping story of a brilliant physicist’s battle for scientific truth in the dark corridors of big government. With an impressive cast including Hollywood legend William Hurt, it promises to be a powerful factual drama for BBC2 and part of our mission to make science ever more surprising and ambitious.”
The project is produced by Laurie Borg and directed by James Hawes. The script is written by Kate Gartside (Mistresses).
