'The Pillars of the Earth': an Epic Miniseries with Ian McShane

[WyldeMan45]

Click the photo to watch the preview

Premieres Friday July 23 on Starz

This epic tale of passion and greed begins when a mysterious secret disrupts the succession to the English crown and an unlikely member of King Henry’s family takes the throne. A power struggle between Henry’s daughter, Maud, and nephew, Stephen, causes England to be torn by war as battles rage for the rightful heir. Meanwhile, Bishop Waleran Bigod and the Hamleigh family manipulate the conflict to satisfy their own ruthless ambitions. Within this tumultuous setting, Prior Philip fights insurmountable obstacles to keep Kingsbridge and his dream of building a magnificent cathedral alive. The task is daunting, but master-mason Tom Builder, his gifted stepson, Jack, and noblewoman Aliena work together to achieve their dreams. And in the process, the long-hidden secret is revealed.

Ian McShane as “Waleran”
Donald Sutherland as “Bartholomew”
Rufus Sewell as “Tom Builder”
Matthew Macfadyen as “Prior Philip”
Sarah Parish as “Regan Hamleigh”
David Oakes as “William Hamleigh”
Robert Bathurst as “Percy Hamleigh”
Hayley Atwell as “Aliena”
Sam Claflin as “Richard”
Eddie Redmayne as “Jack”
Liam Garrigan as “Alfred”
Skye Bennett as “Martha”
Gordon Pinsent as “the Archbishop”
Natalia Worner as “Ellen”
Anatole Taubman as “Remigius”
Goetz Otto as “Walter”
Jody Halse as “Johnny Eightpence”
David Bark Jones as “Francis”

The eight-parts miniseries The Pillars of the Earth will premiere on July 23 at 9 PM on The Movie Network and Movie Central, which are respectively two Canadian premium cable networks from Eastern and Western Canada, along with Starz, an American premium cable network.

The miniseries is obviously based on a novel by Ken Follett. Moreover, it's a co-production between Canada and Germany that was made with a budget of $40 million. Speaking about the shooting locations, the show was shot in Budapest and Austria.

Finally, here are the Canadian broadcast details:

* The first two episodes of The Pillars of the Earth will debut as a two-hour special on Friday, July 23 at 9 p.m., day-and-date with Starz in the U.S.
* On Monday, July 26, the two-hour special will repeat at 9 p.m., the miniseries’ regular timeslot.
* For the following four weeks, new one-hour episodes will premiere Monday nights at 9 p.m.
* The miniseries will conclude with a special two-hour finale on Monday, August 30 at 9 p.m.

[Clark Kent]

I bet this comes out on Blu-ray after it premieres on cable. The cast looks decent and the premise intriguing.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The cast looks decent

I have never seen the word decent mentioned in the history of Ian McShane.....

[WyldeMan45]

I did not see that Czar had created a thread for this before me, can the mods please merge me with https://forum.blu-ray.com/newreply.p...te=1&p=3170154

[WyldeMan45]

It's about that time, and a sneak peak for several million more viewers is a very nice gift. Who's going to be watching??

While the 8-hour miniseries officially premieres Friday July 23 and Starz is only available in around 22 million homes in the U.S., there will be a free early preview of the first two episodes beginning Wednesday July 21 that will be available to 61 million homes.

Via release:

Starz Sets Early Sampling Previews With Affiliates in Record 61M+ Video Households for Upcoming Epic Event Series, ‘The Pillars of the Earth’

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 19 /PRNewswire/ — The first two hours of the epic 8-hour event series, “The Pillars of the Earth,” are available for an early free preview and on-demand/online sampling through select Starz affiliate partners beginning July 21, 2010. The U.S. premiere of the epic original series based on the classic Ken Follett novel is set to begin on Starz for two hours on Friday, July 23 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT) and will continue airing Friday nights at 10:00 PM (ET/PT) for the remainder of the original series.

“The Pillars of the Earth” preview opportunities will be available in more than 60 million video households – record participation by Starz Entertainment cable and satellite affiliates. Participating affiliates offering the free on-demand sampling opportunities for the first two full episodes include (alphabetically):
Blue Ridge Communications (HD),
Bright House Networks (HD),
Buckeye CableSystem,
Cablevision,
Charter Communications (HD),
Comcast (HD),
Cox Communications (HD),
DIRECTV (HD),
Mediacom Communications Corporation (HD),
RCN (HD),
Time Warner Cable (HD), and
WOW!

(“HD” noted above = additional HD On Demand availability for free preview)

DIRECTV will also offer the first two hours of “The Pillars of the Earth” for all subscribers on The 101 Network in both HD and standard definition. The first hour will air Wednesday, July 21 at 8:00PM ET/PT, with the second hour airing Thursday, July 22 at 11PM ET/PT.

AT&T will offer U-verse subscribers the first two hours of “The Pillars of the Earth” back-to-back on the U-verse Buzz channel (300/1300) on July 21st at 10:30PM ET, with repeat airings of the programming block on July 24th at 9:00PM ET, July 28th at 10:30PM ET, and July 31st at 9:00PM ET.

Fancast XFINITY TV (http://www.fancast.com) will have the first two hours of “The Pillars of the Earth” for early online sampling on July 21st, including HD availability. The first two hours of the event series may also be found on July 21st in a premium, full-screen format on Starz.com (http://www.starz.com/error.htm?aspxe...ges/title.aspx).

“Taking a modern literary classic – such as Ken Follett’s #1 bestseller – and translating it to television is a daunting challenge, but this Starz original series is an impressive achievement that Follett fans, our affiliates, and all viewers will enjoy,” said Ed Huguez, executive vice president, sales and affiliate marketing, for Starz Entertainment. ”We are heartened by the record level of participation from Starz affiliates for the on-demand sampling of the event series and pledge to continue a push into original programming that makes Starz a ‘must-have’ for premium subscribers.”

The official “The Pillars of the Earth” trailer, Ken Follett’s production blog and behind the scenes videos are available at http://www.starz.com/error.htm?aspxe...ges/title.aspx. Follow “The Pillars of the Earth” on Twitter: @pillars_starz and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pillars.starz.

About “The Pillars of the Earth”

“The Pillars of the Earth” is a sweeping epic of good and evil, treachery and intrigue, violence and beauty, a sensuous, spirited story set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles in 12th Century England. Ken Follett’s book, first published in 1989, has sold more than 14 million copies worldwide and been published in more than 30 languages. The novel was chosen as an Oprah Book Club selection in 2007 and was included in the May 2010 issue of O Magazine as one of the 10 books that have mattered most to Oprah Winfrey over the past decade. A miniseries tie-in edition of “The Pillars of the Earth” was published by NAL on June 29th.

The $40 million series is directed by three-time DGA award-winner Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (“Heroes,” “Into the West”) and was shot on location in Hungary and Austria with a star-studded cast including: Ian McShane (“Deadwood,” Sexy Beast), Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist, A Knight’s Tale), Matthew Macfadyen (Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood, Pride and Prejudice), Eddie Redmayne (The Yellow Handkerchief, The Good Shepherd ,2010 Tony Award-winner for Red ), Hayley Atwell (The Duchess, upcoming Captain America), Sarah Parish (“Merlin”), Donald Sutherland (“Dirty Sexy Money,” The Italian Job), Alison Pill (Milk) and Gordon Pinsent (Away From Her). It was produced by Emmy® and Golden Globe®-nominated Tandem Communications and multi-award winning Muse Entertainment, in association with Scott Free Films, headed by the internationally renowned, award-winning producers Sir Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.

[WyldeMan45]

So what did you all think of the first two episodes???

[q0rra]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

So what did you all think of the first two episodes???

SQUEE! Didn't realize this had begun to air already! As a huge fan of the books (and Ken Follet in general.) I'll jump right at the series as soon as I get a chance, which will be tomorow considering that it's late here and I need some sleep.

You didn't tell us what you thought, WyldeMan45. So... What did you think, WyldeMan45?

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by q0rra

You didn't tell us what you thought, WyldeMan45. So... What did you think, WyldeMan45?

I never read the books so I have nothing to compare this with, but based on the two episodes I've seen I quite enjoy the story. It was a bit confusing at first when they would jump between castles and it took me a little bit to remember names, some I still can't quite remember but I already find myself wishing it was longer than 8 episodes.

[q0rra]

http://cultural-learnings.com/2010/0...me-of-thrones/ - Interesting read.

[P@t_Mtl]

I got the first two episodes on DVR, will be watching it this week. I heard of the book but never got around to read it. The cast look's quite interesting.

[q0rra]

I've seen the first episode now and quite liked it. Three things that disturbed me, however, was how old Jack was compared to the books, and that they shortened Philips election (in the book he actually fought somewhat for it.) and lastly how Ellen and Tom get so fond of each other so quickly. And I'm a bit saddened to see that they left out the part where Tom tries to get the pig back. But overall I'm very happy. Now off to see the second part!

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by q0rra

I've seen the first episode now and quite liked it. Three things that disturbed me, however, was how old Jack was compared to the books, and that they shortened Philips election (in the book he actually fought somewhat for it.) and lastly how Ellen and Tom get so fond of each other so quickly. And I'm a bit saddened to see that they left out the part where Tom tries to get the pig back. But overall I'm very happy. Now off to see the second part!

With there only being 8 episodes there are incredibly edited moments and they sure as hell feel that way too. It was one of the things that annoyed me so greatly during the episodes of The Tudors. They don't address the time jumps with year dates, they just go from being pregnant, to giving birth to having a three year old in one episode. I would imagine it's going to even be worse on this show. Don't know why they had to cram so much into it and make it a miniseries, not like Starz is known for their miniseries after all.

[P@t_Mtl]

Seen the first episodes, will probably see the next one tonight. I've never read the book so most of the changes will not bother me.

So far I can say it's not bad, not amazing but enough to keep me going and watch it all. Was great to see two Canadian actors in it with Donald Sutherland & Gordon Pinsent.

[lobosrul]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Don't know why they had to cram so much into it and make it a miniseries, not like Starz is known for their miniseries after all.

Pillars of the Earth was made by a German production company called Tandem Communications. Starz bought the US TV rights after it was already completed.

[q0rra]

*SPOILERS*
Incest in the Hamleigh family? Whut.
That wasn't even hinted at in the books. I'll get over it. But still. Whut.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by q0rra

*SPOILERS*
Incest in the Hamleigh family? Whut.
That wasn't even hinted at in the books. I'll get over it. But still. Whut.

It was more than hinted at in the first episode, they where all about set to do it. They took the old saying Sex Sells and figured well maybe Incest will sell better?

[q0rra]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

It was more than hinted at in the first episode, they where all about set to do it. They took the old saying Sex Sells and figured well maybe Incest will sell better?

Or make the Hamleighs appear all manners of crazy. I mean, it's not like they won't get a chance to make up for all the kind people in the show in the later episodes. They're supposed to be cold, selfish, calculative and evil, not... weird. :S
Curious to see if they're going to do anything more with it.

[perdition]

pretty boring show imo. hated the first episode.

[ScuseMe]

I read the book a few years ago. Eye-opening in its descriptions of the everyday life of man in that age. Very good read (if you like King-sized books )

I thought that the first 2 episodes, while good, were very confusing. I think the writers/producers tried to cram too much into the first 2 hours. I had to pause the playback several times just to get everything straight in my mind. Nonetheless good acting throughout (Ian McShane is excellent).

I haven't watched Episode 3 yet, so maybe it'll settle down. I'm rooting for it. Should look great on blu.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by ScuseMe

I read the book a few years ago. Eye-opening in its descriptions of the everyday life of man in that age. Very good read (if you like King-sized books )

I thought that the first 2 episodes, while good, were very confusing. I think the writers/producers tried to cram too much into the first 2 hours. I had to pause the playback several times just to get everything straight in my mind. Nonetheless good acting throughout (Ian McShane is excellent).

I haven't watched Episode 3 yet, so maybe it'll settle down. I'm rooting for it. Should look great on blu.

Episode 3 is overloaded too. They have to jump forward so much in time and everything is so condensed that it makes The Tudors seem brilliant. Now don't get me wrong I LOVED the Tudors but sometimes it was too overloaded and the Pillars has that feeling with every episode since they are trying to pile 15 years into 8 episodes. This was never going to work in that short amount of time, but they gave it their best and yes McShane is the shinning light as always. It's just a shame he can't get a great cable show on FX, AMC or HBO, but Starz no way.