Andrew Lee-Potts Interview with Chicago Now

Andrew here. Yet more thanks to the eagle-eyed Luckyhannah25, who spotted this recent ALP interview. Not much new is revealed, apart from "there are definitely going to be more nods toward Connor becoming more like Cutter." Here's the whole thing:

Tell me some secrets.
[Laughs.] I can't tell you anything. Obviously, they're going to keep pushing--a lot of things happened in the last series; i.e., losing our lead character. You've got to be a bit clever to survive in 'Primeval' because they like killing people off quite a lot. But that's their way of keeping it really super fresh, and you actually never know. And nobody's really safe. But yeah, I will--can I say--will I--no, I can't.

Well, we know that you have to come back from the past. Last we saw Connor, Abby and you guys were all stuck in the past.
Yeah, but when do we come back from the past? That's the only thing I'll say.

All right. That works.
You don't know how long we've been there, and that might be a key thing.

Ahh. OK. Fans are genuinely excited to hear the good news.
It's like it is what it is, and yeah, it's a family show and stuff, but I genuinely think ... it's actually really entertaining. It's got a lot for everybody in there, and I think it doesn't patronize. We have a bit of fun. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but just seriously enough. I think the balance of things in the show, I think they always get right. Well, obviously I'm going to say that, because I'm a big "Primeval" fan. So yeah, it's all about making it better every time, and that's what we keep trying to do.

In the three seasons so far, Connor's gone from sort of being a goofball nerdy guy to a hero.
An accidental hero, I suppose, yeah.

Andrew-Lee Potts credits his former co-star, Douglas Henshall (right), with making "Primeval" a success.

The last season, when team leader Cutter died and Connor's reaction was very cool. Was it hard to film that knowing that actor Douglas Henshall was leaving the show?
Yeah, it was really hard to film. Yeah, it was really hard to film, because me and Dougie were really close. I've said this before, he was very similar to Cutter off-screen as well. It's just the respect--I really respect his work and his opinions and the way he goes about his life.

And in my opinion, if it wasn't for Dougie, the show would have been nowhere near as good. God, it's funny, because they talk about Abby [being] people's favorite character--all this, that and the other. People might not realize how much Dougie, I think, anchored the entire show, because it was his belief in it, his belief in coming from the serious actor side, and the professor side of the story line. I think that made the show somewhat plausible in the ridiculousness of the "Primeval" world. I really respected that.

I suppose, in a way, I am the character to carry that on now, so there are definitely going to be more nods toward Connor becoming more like Cutter.

Everybody else is back, right, who we ended up seeing at the end?
I can only confirm that Hannah is coming back as Abby and Jason is coming back as Danny. Those are the only people I can confirm.

And you.
And I'm coming back. I'm there. They can't get rid of me.

Pictures from Series 4 film set.

Chris here, again!

More thanks to Primeval forum member "Luckyhannah25" for providing us with a link with set pictures from an episode of Primeval.
They all feature three of the main actors/characters; Andrew-Lee Potts (Connor Temple), Hannah Spearitt(Abby Maitland) and Ben Mansfield (Captain Becker). Also Abby seems to be carrying a bag with the handle of a big knife(?) sticking out.

Finally I would like to draw your attention to the new ARC symbol(bottom right) as seen in Episode 3.9 in the future ARC.

You can see more of the pictures here.

Primeval Series 4 film crew in Dublin.

Chris here.

Thanks to our Primeval forum member "luckyhannah25" for finding these.
Parts 1 and 2 of the video are here for your viewing pleasure, although there is not much to it, apart from a big creature being imagined. Possibly another one of the ARC's rare dinosaur encounters?

It shouldn't too be long before Impossible Pictures or ITV pull these down, I assume.

Primeval Evolved game Wins Emmy

Hi, Stacey here

News has just reached me that the primeval evolved game has won the international digital emmy award. I saw the news on Twitter of all places from the itvprimeval twitter http://twitter.com/itvprimeval

So, congrats to the team behind primeval evolved!

But what do you think about it winning over the other nominees, which i think can be found on the previous blog entry, worthy winner?

All the best
Stacey

Primeval Evolved up for an Emmy digital award

Hi, Christian here!

Primeval: Evolved, is an interactive game taking place "behind-the-scenes" of Series 3 of Primeval. You play the role of a lab technician who has started roughly before the events of episode 3.1 (Series 3 Episode 1) and is forced to help a mysterious woman called Eve (who we later see in episode 3.9). As of now the game (and the set of mini-games called Connor's Games) haven't been pulled down, so try it out and see what you think and comment if it deserves an Emmy.

Fiction

Final Punishment: BeActive Entertainment/Altec do Brasil/Canal Oi/Milagro

Pietshow II: Grundy UFA TV Produktions GmbH, Germany

Primeval Evolved: ITV1/itv.com/Hoodlum/Impossible Pictures, UK

Print Friends: FremantleMedia/FMX, UK

Read more here.

Chris

More on the Cast

Adrian Hodges has talked to TotalSciFiOnline following the Primeval press release, giving further details on the new cast members, including the full name of the new team leader, and a few more tidbits.

http://totalscifionline.com/news/4862-filming-begins-on-new-series-of-primeval

Speaking exclusively to Total Sci-Fi, co-creator Adrian Hodges said he was delighted with the additions to the cast, including Ciarin McMenamin, who played the older David Copperfield in Hodges’ adaptation of the Dickens novel for BBC Classics, as new leading man Matt Anderson.

“He is a wonderful actor with an enigmatic, heroic quality that fits his character really well,” Hodges said. “Matt is a man with a lot of secrets and I think Ciarin is terrific at being both heroic, accessible but also just a little bit mysterious.”

Former Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Alexander Siddig joins as Philip Burton, the co-runner of the ARC with Ben Miller’s James Lester. “It's a real coup for us to get such a fine actor in this important part and I think he's going to bring a lot of quality to the show. It's a joy to be working with him,” Hodges notes.

Playing Jess, the new head of operations at the ARC, is Irish actress Ruth Kearney. “She is a new face – Primeval is her first TV job – and as the character of Jess I think she's gong to be a lot of fun. She has a fresh, lively quality which is lovely and she's also very funny.”

Hannah Spearritt, Andrew Lee-Potts and Ben Mansfield will be reprising their roles as Abby, Connor and Becker, with Hodges telling us that he’s “also really glad that one or two important faces from the past are going to be returning during the series. Stand by for surprises...!"

So, to sum up what we know about the new characters:

• Ciarán McMenamin is to play Matt Anderson, the new field leader. He's an ex-soldier and zoologist, with "an uncanny ability to understand animals." He is "a man with a lot of secrets", and there is a "real reason" why he joined the ARC.
• Ruth Kearney will play Jess, an "unconventional", "highly efficient and organised" woman who now runs operations from the ARC control centre, and has an unrequited crush on Captain Becker.
• The ARC is now jointly run by Lester and charismatic scientist Philip Burton, played by Alexander Siddig.
• Ben Miller, Hannah Spearritt, Andrew Lee-Potts and Ben Mansfield are all confirmed to return as regulars, and Jason Flemyng for a few episodes. Still no mention of Laila Rouass, though.
• "One or two important faces from the past" are to return to the show. We already know that James Bradshaw (Duncan) is to return, but who else?

Primeval Press Release

Andrew here.

http://itvprimeval.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=s4gd&action=display&thread=2170

ITV have released a brand new press release for Primeval, detailing the three new main characters. Thanks to Admin Jon at the Primeval forum, who got the release direct from ITV.

A NEW TEAM IS ON THE MENU AS FRESH DANGER ERUPTS ON TO ITV1

6 April 2010

ITV is proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed, smash hit adventure series Primeval. Returning to the action and facing an increasing menagerie of terrors from the past and future. Hannah Spearritt, Ben Miller, Andrew Lee-Potts, and Ben Mansfield will be stepping beyond the anomalies to keep the world safe from unimaginable dangers – aided by the surprise return of some notable guest stars from earlier series. In addition, the new series sees the arrival of new faces and a new ARC…

Ciarán McMenamin (Silent Witness, Jericho), Alexander Siddig (Clash of the Titans, 24, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Ruth Kearney (Gracie) join the team at the ARC after the government loses faith in Lester’s (Ben Miller) ability to run such a dangerous and expensive operation on his own. The anomaly operation is now a public/private partnership, part-owned by the government, and partly by charismatic scientist Philip Burton (Alexander Siddig).

With Connor, Abby and Danny trapped in the past at the end of series three, the ARC has found new recruits to take their place: Matt (Ciarán McMenamin), new field leader, is more than just an ex-soldier; he’s an zoologist, with an uncanny ability to understand animals. A private man, Matt carefully guards the secrets of his past - and the real reason he has joined the ARC team. Unconventional Jess (Ruth Kearney) now runs operations from the ARC Control Centre – highly efficient and organised, her work ethic is second to none, though she is human enough to nurse an unrequited crush on Captain Becker (Ben Mansfield).

Primeval will return to UK television screens for two new series from 2011, thanks to a ground-breaking deal between ITV, multichannel broadcaster, UKTV, and producers Impossible Pictures.

The premieres of Series 4 and series 5 of Primeval will be split between ITV1 and UKTV’s new entertainment pay TV channel, Watch. ITV1 will be the first to broadcast series 4 (in early 2011), while Watch will premiere series 5 later that year. ITV1 will then broadcast season 5.

Impossible Pictures has worked closely with BBC Worldwide to implement a new funding strategy for the series, in which BBC America, which has acquired previous series for broadcast in the US, joins Germany’s Pro7 as a co-production partner for the new episodes.

Tim Haines, Creative Director of Impossible Pictures Ltd, said: “I am thrilled that ITV has agreed to this new deal which will allow Impossible Pictures to produce another 13 episodes of Primeval. The confidence demonstrated in the programme's continued success here and abroad will help us bring more big screen action and a whole host of new creatures roaring back into people's living rooms.”

Laura Mackie, Director of ITV Drama Commissioning, said: “We’re delighted to have agreed this new deal with Impossible to return Primeval to ITV1. The innovative nature of this partnership will allow the show to maintain its high production values and deliver the fantastic programme that our viewers know and love.”

Paul Moreton, Channel Head of Watch, said: “We are really excited to be part of this truly innovative deal that guarantees the continuation of this fantastically entertaining series. I know Primeval is going to be a massive hit with Watch viewers and the perfect complement to other popular sci-fi dramas such as Doctor Who and Torchwood.”

The press release confirms the return of Connor, Abby, Lester and Becker, and we already know that Danny will be back for at least a few episodes, and Duncan for at least one.

A Whole Set of Youtube Interviews!

Hey, Andrew here.

The Youtube channel 'YouMaketheMovies' have conducted and uploaded a series of interviews with several members of the Primeval crew - co-creator Adrian Hodges, director Cilla Ware, Composer Dominic Scherrer, Runner Alana Hurd and Casting Director Gill Travellick.

Adrian Hodges: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRboIhTAw-o

Gill Travellick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG5IXRl5Oa0

Dominic Scherrer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdM4KOMXaYg

Cilla Ware:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwZt99HLF-Q

Alana Hurd: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH0K6-lBNoY

It's nice to finally put a face to the names we see in the credits all the time!

Now, in the Adrian Hodges video, we get flashes from the script of an unknown episode. The script pieces are quite legible. This may not be an actual script, but if it is, then it's obviously a spoiler. These particular pages don't give away much about the ongoing plot, though. Don't expect to see what happened to Connor and Abby, for example.

If you don't want to hear any more about the script extracts, stop reading...

...here.

OK, so the script extract describes an early creature attack... on a submarine! And the creatures are... pliosaurs! A whole pod of pliosaurs. As for the regular characters, we get a couple of lines from Danny, but they reveal very little about his situation. So that's our first creature confirmed!

Andrew