Reuters and SCI FI Wire are reporting that Syfy (formerly and less ridiculously known as the Sci Fi Channel) is planning an Americanized remake of “Being Human“, the BBC’s popular comedy-drama about a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost living together in Bristol. “It turned out great as we can now do an American version,” Syfy president Dave Howe told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’ve always been keen on vampires and werewolves, and we loved the originality of ‘Being Human,’ the fact that the fantastical creatures in it are very young, accessible and charming.”
Despite Dave’s peppy attitude, reactions of fans of the original series seems to be largely negative. io9’s Meredith Woerner makes some great observations about the cultural and class differences between US and UK audiences that will probably result in much of the show’s charm being lost, and regarding the Dave Howe quote above, she notes: “They loved the originality of it so much, they decided to remake it.”
I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t seen Being Human at all, other than a behind-the-scenes feature on show’s formidable werewolf transformation effects. I am definitely going to track it down this weekend, though– it sounds like I’m missing out on a real phenomenon, and I’d like to experience it before it gets “remixed”, American-style.