With the “Pusher” trilogy, “Drive”, “Only God Forgives” or “The Neon Demon” Nicolas Winding Refn managed to build up a large fan base. The Dane’s cinema is not only characterized by its bloody harshness, but also by its particularly refined feeling for image and sound worlds. In particular, the “Drive”, which is only approved for over 18s in this country, is an aesthetic delight in whose scenic grandeur one is only too happy to lose oneself (and for which we fully deserved the maximum rating of 5 stars).
In recent years, Nicolas Winding Refn then moved on to serial production and, with “Too Old To Die Young” (for Amazon Prime Video) and “Copenhagen Cowboy” (for Netflix), delivered two extremely large projects that even fans of Refn often have pushed to the limit because of their almost provocative delay. As has now been announced, Refn will be providing a very special series next – but it should be a little different…
“Famous Five” becomes a series
Nicolas Winding Refn is said to be attempting an adaptation of the popular “Famous Five” book series in collaboration with the BBC and ZDF. It is said to be a three-part series, with each episode or part lasting 90 minutes. A concept, then, that the BBC has already pursued in series such as “Sherlock” or “Dracula”.
The only important thing here is: Nicolas Winding Refn will not direct the series, but will serve as developer and executive producer. Tim Kirkby, who recently staged the neo-noir thriller “Last Looks” with Charlie Hunnam and Mel Gibson, will direct. It would of course have been interesting if Refn had taken on the matter as a director, but perhaps in this case the influence of the exceptional director can also be detected in some corners.
“Famous Friends” (originally: “The Famous Five”) is one of them End Blyton author of bestselling series, who now has 21 books. The focus is on Julian, Dick, Anne, George and their dog Timmy, who, as young explorers, go on daring adventures and not only face many dangers, but also solve mysteries that keep the close friendship between the heroes ever more deeply alive.
“Vijf Vrienden” can therefore be put in a row with youth stories such as “TKKG” or “De Drie???”. This is not the first film adaptation of the books. While there were already two series in the 1970s and 1990s, a film of the same name appeared in German cinemas in 2013 and proved to be a great success. Four sequels followed. The latest, Five Friends and the Valley of the Dinosaurs, came out in 2018.