Simon Callow to star in Brighton-set comedy
Simon Callow is to play Henry Palmer in The Rebel, based on the cartoon strip character created by Andrew Birch in The Oldie magazine.
Pre-production is underway on the 3 x 30 comedy, which comes from executive producer Jon Rolph of Retort, with Vadim Jean in place as producer and director. Gold’s Simon Lupton also executive produces.
Creator Birch has adapted his original cartoon strip as a scripted comedy – part of Gold’s current slate of original scripted commissions – which will see Callow as the anti-establishment, angry, Brighton-dwelling Palmer.
Callow said of the role: “The Rebel is a wildly funny, edgy and sometimes rather searing new sitcom which could hardly be more now. Henry is very, very angry, and he has much to be angry about i.e. everything in the world around him. He sees himself as a fearless exposer of cant and folly. Others sometimes have a different view of him. It's a part I can relate to very, very easily.”
Shooting begins in early February on location in London and Brighton. PI subscribers can log in for exact shoot dates and names including line producer and production designer.
Also on PI are listings for other Retort projects currently in development, including brand new comedy Henry IX, the third series of Count Arthur Strong and the second series of Chewing Gum.
Photo via Jeremy Sutton-Herbert/Getty Images Ent.
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