‘Ghosts US’ Gets November UK Premiere Date On BBC Three
If you’re mourning the fact that the latest season of ‘Ghosts‘ has ended on BBC One, BBC Three has something which might help fill the void… ‘Ghosts US‘, the extremely well-reviewed American remake, will premiere later this month on the UK broadcaster.
The basic plotline of the US version is the same as the UK. A couple, in this case, Samantha and Jay, throw caution to the wind when they convert their recently inherited country estate into a bed-and-breakfast. Call it mislaid plans. Not only is the place falling apart, but it’s also inhabited by spirits of previous residents, whom only Samantha can see and hear. ‘Ghosts’ spins the funny, heartfelt story about a newfound dream that reveals connection and self-discovery aren’t just for the living.
The remake stars the wonderful Rose McIver, best known for her lead role in the CW series ‘iZombie’, as Samantha. Her husband, Jay, is played by Utkarsh Ambudkar, known for his film roles in ‘Pitch Perfect’ and ‘Free Guy’, along with tv roles in ‘The Dropout’, ‘Brockmire’, and ‘White Famous’.
Those characters are pretty similar to the UK versions, but there are a few more differences on the ghost side. Richie Moriarty (‘Pinkalicious & Peterrific’, ‘The Truth’) plays Pete Martino, a Pinecone Trooper leader who died in 1985 when one of his scouts accidentally shot him through the neck with an arrow – based on scout leader Pat in the UK version; Brandon Scott Jones (‘Isn’t It Romantic’, ‘The Good Place’) plays Captain Isaac Higgintoot, a closeted gay American Revolutionary officer who died of dysentery – based on the Captain in the original British series; Asher Grodman (‘Succession’, ‘Chicago Med’) play Trevor Lefkowitz, a wealthy, hard-partying business executive and Wall Street tycoon who died in 2000 from a heart attack, caused by an accidental drug overdose, while not wearing pants. He is based on Julian Fawcett MP in the original series; Devan Chandler Long (‘Doom Patrol’, ‘Bosch’) plays Thorfinn, a Viking and the oldest of the ghosts, and is based on the caveman Robin in the original series; And Rebecca Wisocky (‘Star Trek: Picard’, ‘Dopesick’) plays Hetty Woodstone, the lady of the manor, and Sam’s fourth-great-grandmother, based on Lady Fanny Button in the original British series.
Whilst those ghosts are, pretty much, Americanised versions of the UK characters, there are some original spooks too. Sheila Carrasco (‘Jane the Virgin’) plays Susan Montero, aka Flower, a hippie who died while trying to befriend a wild bear; Danielle Pinnock (‘Young Sheldon’) plays Alberta Haynes, a flamboyant Prohibition-era jazz singer who died from drinking poisoned moonshine; And Román Zaragoza (‘Austin & Ally’) plays Sasappis, a cynical Lenape Native American.
It is fair to say, US versions of beloved UK sitcoms have been… mixed… so British viewers, understandably, tend to approach these things with some scepticism. However, the US remake of ‘Ghosts’ has been incredibly well-reviewed, with the comedy landing an average 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If nothing else, it could be worth a watch for the curious!
The series is exec produced by Joe Port & Joe Wiseman, who developed the US verison, along with, Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Martha Howe-Douglas, the original series cast and creators. Also exec producing are Alison Carpenter, Debra Hayward, and Alison Owen (Monumental Television); Angie Stephenson (BBC Studios); and Trent O’Donnell. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Lionsgate Television and BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm.
‘Ghosts US‘ Season 1 premieres Sunday, 20th November at 8.30pm on BBC Three.
