‘Wolf Hall’ Producer Says Cost of Making U.K. Drama Has Risen ‘Exponentially’ Due to U.S. Streamers: ‘It’s Caused Us a Real Problem’

As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of British television over the past few decades, I must say that the ongoing influx of U.S. streamers into the UK market is indeed a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s brought fresh investment and opportunities for our talented creators and actors. However, as Colin Callender points out, it has also driven up production costs significantly, making it increasingly challenging for British producers to create dramas of this scale.

Colin Callender, the producer of “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light,” attributed the increase in drama production costs in the U.K. to the surge of American streaming services, expressing that this trend has posed significant challenges for them.

Over the last decade since I helped create “Wolf Hall,” the cost of crafting dramatic productions in the U.K. has skyrocketed. After a recent sneak peek of the Hilary Mantel adaptation, this became abundantly clear. The expenses have grown at an alarming rate, and ironically, despite the hype about American investment boosting our industry, it’s actually caused us some trouble. You see, these streaming platforms are offering massive sums for talent, locations, and other resources, which puts a strain on our budgets.

Consequently, with factors like inflation, rising costs of living, and skyrocketing salaries for talent (partly due to streaming platforms), creating productions of such a magnitude has become incredibly difficult for British production companies.

Callender serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Playground Entertainment, a company known for producing television series such as “Wolf Hall” and “All Creatures Great & Small.

2015 saw the debut of the initial season of “Wolf Hall,” a television series inspired by the first two novels in Mantel’s trilogy chronicling Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s advisor. Mark Rylance portrayed Cromwell, while Damien Lewis took on the role of Henry VIII. Claire Foy depicted Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife, who met a grim end – literally speaking – at the conclusion of the first season.

Five years after Mantel’s passing in 2022, she published her final work, titled “The Mirror and The Light.” The film adaptation faced additional delays due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, busy actor schedules, and locations – several authentic Tudor buildings – that could only be filmed during off-season when they were closed to tourists.

Peter Kozminski, the initial season’s director, is set to join forces with screenwriter Peter Straughan once more, along with several familiar faces among the cast, such as Lewis and Rylance.

As a movie critic, I must admit, the absence of Hilary Mantel’s invaluable input following her tragic demise undeniably hampered our creative process during the production of the third season. Her significant contributions to the first season and the stage adaptation were indeed one of the primary reasons for the delay in completing the third book.

I myself firmly believe that during her lifetime, she stood unparalleled as the foremost writer in the English language. Currently, we’re bringing her final work to life on screen, a task that carried significant weight. For me, it was a deeply personal mission to ensure I didn’t fall short of her expectations.

The third book, along with its series, details Cromwell’s transformation from a favored courtier to an enemy of the state, a narrative that director Kozminski referred to as “a tale of gradual decline and plunge into darkness.

Kozminski also discussed the new inclusion of actors of diverse backgrounds this season, as the initial installment of the series only had a white cast. “We didn’t do this in the first series,” said the director, expressing his joy about the change. “I’m thrilled we were able to make it happen [now],” he added. The intention was to secure the most talented actors suitable for the show.

It’s clear that the characters played by Damian and Jonathan in the show don’t share a strong physical resemblance to historical figures like Henry VIII or Cardinal Wolsey. While Damian possesses many admirable qualities, he doesn’t bear a striking resemblance to Henry VIII, and neither does Jonathan Pryce to Cardinal Wolsey.

During the Q&A session, Lewis openly confessed that he had been using padding to give himself a fuller appearance during the ongoing series. When asked about his vision for portraying Henry in the upcoming adaptation, Lewis casually stated, “I want him to be fat.” The actor disclosed that he donned an impressive foam suit, which not only kept him warm amidst the cold British climate while filming on location, but also added to Henry’s imposing physical presence. Lewis described the sixteenth century monarch as both physically formidable and psychologically unpredictable.

When asked about his most poignant experience during filming, Lewis shared that it was the scene depicting Henry’s wedding to Jane Seymour (portrayed by Kate Phillips) and another where she passes away after childbirth. He stated, “It was an emotionally charged day when she departed.” Given that Lewis’ wife, Helen McRory, who played Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter’, passed away in 2021, the scenes held a special significance for him. “From an acting perspective, being fully engaged and immersed in those moments made it a truly memorable experience,” he added.

2024-11-07 03:17

‘Wolf Hall’ Producer Says Cost of Making U.K. Drama Has Risen ‘Exponentially’ Due to U.S. Streamers: ‘It’s Caused Us a Real Problem’

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