The first two episodes of Crusoe will be run as a two hour premiere on Friday October 17 on NBC. This is the first time a British production has aired as original first run programming in the US- it is a new series not something being re-done here for the US audiences. This lavish production has been shot in England and South Africa with some of the finest actors on any continent.
The story of Robinson Crusoe is being given an all new treatment. The story begins in England where we see the rise and fall of Crusoe and what brings him to his island of solitude and the torment his family is put through in his absence.
The star of the series in the title role of Robinson “Robin” Crusoe is being played by television newcomer Philip Winchester. The supporting cast includes Sam Neill and Sean Bean. You read that correctly- Neill and Bean! Why NBC isn’t running ads all over television and the web right and left promoting this- I have no idea. They have been extremely stingy with promotional material but we finally have some! Bean is playing Crusoe’s father so we will be seeing him mainly in flashbacks- so he should have an ongoing part in the series. No stranger to period pieces, Bean is known as Sharpe in the very popular movies based upon the works of Bernard Cornwall. Back to Crusoe!
Here are a few sample photos from the pilot- we have more loaded into our gallery
Episode List:
Season 1, Ep 1: Rum and Gunpowder
Crusoe sets out on a journey to America with the hopes of finding a way out of debt. While on the ship, an assassin almost kills him, and later Crusoe and his trusty companion Friday find themselves stranded on a desert island struggling to survive. This is the two hour premiere set to air October 17, 2008
Season 1, Ep 2: Sacrifice
After attempting to fix the water source to the tree house, Crusoe loses his wedding ring. Meanwhile, Friday has a dream about a woman needing to be returned to the sea, and together with Crusoe they attempt to discover the truth. Second episode to air October 24, 2008
Video from the new series
Interviews with the cast
Pilot Sneak Peek- clips from the Pilot of Crusoe- 12 minutes!
On Location Across the Globe
This is the fall NBC Preview of Crusoe that aired last month all over the place
