Jason Isaacs To Play Cary Grant In New Biopic Miniseries ‘Archie’
Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs is set to play Hollywood legend Cary Grant in a new ITV series. The four-part drama series Archie is taken from Cary Grant's birth name, Archibald Alec Leach. The series will premiere on ITV's streaming service ITVX in the U.K. later this year before making its debut on ITV. While there is currently there is no word about international sales, the ITV drama series will also be streaming on BritBox International.
Isaacs speaks on his role as the legendary actor:
“There was only one Cary Grant, and I’d never be foolish enough to try to step into his iconic shoes. Archie Leach, on the other hand, couldn’t be further from the character he invented to save himself. It’s the story of a man, not a legend, and those are shoes I can’t wait to walk in.”
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Archie will tell the story of the actor who will later be known as Cary Grant. The series will follow his life from his birth in Bristol in 1904 to his childhood in extreme poverty, touching on his father’s adultery and the loss of his older brother. It will also depict his early career in show business and his eventual move to the U.S. The series will include scenes from the 1960s at a time when Cary Grant was at the height of his stardom.
The new ITV series has received the blessing from Cary Grant’s ex-wife Dyan Cannon:
"Cary Grant touched the world with his charm, his grace, and enduring vivacity, but few knew Archie Leach, the man I was fortunate to know intimately and marry. I’m so grateful [Philomena writer] Jeff Pope has captured him so brilliantly on the page, and that Jason Isaacs will do the same on screen!"
Grant’s daughter was also thrilled:
"[Writer and executive producer] Jeff’s thoughtfully intelligent understanding of Dad’s boyhood won me over. My father’s formative years as Archie Leach in Bristol, England, and the extraordinary challenges he faced, lie at the heart of Archie. Cary Grant is emblematic of charm, wit and grace, but unknown to most are the enormous challenges he overcame to create himself."
Cary Grant started his Hollywood career in 1932 and starred along with other legends such as Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, and Mae West to name a few. He continued in the 1940s and 1950s as one of Hollywood’s top leading men, co-starring with leading ladies such as Katharine Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman. He is best known for his roles in To Catch a Thief (1955), North by Northwest (1959), and Charade (1963).
Grant would retire from acting in 1966 at the age of 62 when his daughter Jennifer was born. From then on, he refused to work on any films claiming that he hadn't found any scripts suitable for him. He had also become disillusioned with the Hollywood film industry despite his colleagues’ attempts to lure him back into the business.
Jason Isaacs is best known to modern fans for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series. He has had a long movie career with highlights such as Black Hawk Down (2000), The Patriot (2001), and more recently The Death of Stalin (2017). Isaac’s television credits include Star Trek: Discovery and Good Sam. He had also lent his voice in animated series such as Star Wars Rebels and The Legend of Korra, playing the Grand Inquisitor and Zhao, respectively.
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