Meaney is dropped from show for Keitel, but hey, that's Life On Mars
REPLACED: Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt in Life On Mars
Tuesday August 19 2008
IT was the role of a lifetime which was supposed to propel Irish actor Colm Meaney into the big time.
However, just several months after Golden Globe nominee enthusiastically discussed his role as Gene Hunt in the US version of Life On Mars on the Late Late Show, Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Keitel has stepped into the shoes meant for him.
Reservoir Dogs star Keitel began shooting for the ABC series in New York this week, looking bloodied and dishevelled as he portrayed the character of Gene Hunt.
Meaney (54) parted ways with the much-hyped production after filming a pilot for the series along with other cast members. It is not clear why he left the series but producers have carried out a number of changes to the series after they were reportedly unhappy with the pilot.
Only Dublin-born actor Jason O'Mara (35) was retained by TV bosses. He will continue in his role as Sam Tyler -- a modern-day police officer who finds himself mysteriously transported back to 1973. O'Mara is a well-known face to American audiences -- he has previously appeared in Grey's Anatomy and CSI: Miami.
The series was meant to be set in Los Angeles -- but as part of the 'makeover', producers decided to move it to New York and bring Keitel on board.
The series is the jewel in the crown for ABC's Autumn series with the channel confident it will perform well. The TV network is hopeful they can replicate the success of the BBC's series of the same name. More than seven million Americans tuned into the final episode of Life On Mars when it was screened in the US.
At the start of the summer, ABC finally closed a deal to pick up the show which Ally McBeal writer David E Kelly has adapted for Stateside audiences.
- -- Jane Last
