Rebus (2000 TV series) explained

Genre:Crime drama
Creator:Ian Rankin
Starring:John Hannah
Ken Stott
Gayanne Potter
Claire Price
Sara Stewart
Jennifer Black
Ron Donachie
Ewan Stewart
Jenny Ryan
Composer:Simon Rogers
David Ferguson
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Series:4
Num Episodes:14
List Episodes:
  1. Episode list
Executive Producer:Eric Coulter
Philip Hinchcliffe
Producer:Alan J. Wands
Murray Ferguson
Editor:Chris Buckland
Jon Gow
Location:Edinburgh, Scotland
Cinematography:Alasdair Walker
Runtime:60–120 minutes
Company:Scottish Television/
STV Studios,
Clerkenwell Films
Channel:ITV

Rebus is a British television detective drama series based on the Inspector Rebus novels by the Scottish author Ian Rankin. The series, produced by STV Studios for the ITV network, was broadcast between 26 April 2000 and 7 December 2007, and consisted of fourteen episodes across four series.

The first series starred John Hannah as the title character; and was co-produced by Hannah's own production company, Clerkenwell Films. After Hannah quit, the role was re-cast with Ken Stott appearing in three subsequent series, produced in-house by STV.

In 2022, it was announced the series would return to television, with Nordic streaming service Viaplay producing a new Rebus adaptation, starring Richard Rankin, the company's first original commission in the UK.[1]

Production

The first series is very different in both format and style. Hannah's portrayal of Rankin's world-weary detective was questioned by many who knew the books, as he did not physically match their image of Rebus. Hannah himself has said he felt forced into the role, having been executive producer, when his own choice for the role, Peter Mullan, was rejected by STV.[2]

Hannah's interpretation of the inspector has been viewed as deeper than the later productions, using narration to expand the viewers insight into the character's thoughts, or to reveal background information,[3] which never occurs during Stott's tenure. The earlier stories also retained the darkness of the novels and were more faithful to the original storylines,[3] while longer running times meant that each story could be less ruthless with Rankin's many asides and sub-plots.

"The First Stone" is the first and only story to be featured throughout the series which is not based upon a full Rebus novel, rather a novella from a collection of short stories. "Knots and Crosses" is the only story which, despite bearing the name of a Rankin book, does not share the plot.

Cancellation

In February 2008, ITV announced that Rebus had been axed, amid reports that Stott had told producers he did not want to continue in the role. ITV indicated at the time that further "one-off specials are a possibility for the future."[4] In April 2011, it was reported that the series could make a return to television, and a spokeswoman for STV confirmed a comeback was on the cards: "We fully intend to bring Rebus back in the future. There are no firm plans yet, but it will return."[5]

In 2012, Rankin announced that he has purchased the rights to the TV series back, and that he does not intend to bring Rebus back in the present format, having criticised the shorter format of the later series.[6]

Release

All three Stott series were released on DVD in the United Kingdom in 2007.[7] [8] [9] In Region 1, Koch Vision released the first series on DVD on 10 January 2006.[10] Series two through four were later released by Acorn Media between 2006 and 2008.[11] [12] [13] In 2008, Delta released the Hannah series in a four-disc box set.[14]

Cast

Episode list

Series 1 (2000–2001)

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Series 2 (2006)

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Series 3 (2006)

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Series 4 (2007)

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External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Max . Goldbart . Ian Rankin's 'Rebus' Returns To TV As Viaplay's Debut UK Original. November 4, 2022. . November 3, 2022.
  2. Web site: Rick. Fulton. In the lap of the Gods but John Hannah just can't get the work he wants in the UK. Daily Record. 13 May 2011.
  3. Web site: John Hannah vs Ken Stott: Who's The Better Rebus? | Rebus | Drama Channel . Drama.uktv.co.uk . 28 May 2015 . 21 July 2017.
  4. News: Leigh Holmwood . ITV ditches Rebus as axe looms over several underperforming shows | Media . The Guardian . 22 February 2008. 21 July 2017.
  5. Web site: News – The Scotsman . https://archive.today/20130201232751/http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Rebus-set-to-return-to.6749507.jp . dead . 1 February 2013 . News.scotsman.com . 21 July 2017.
  6. Web site: John Dingwall . Ian Rankin has rights back for Rebus . Daily Record . 14 September 2012 . 21 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Rebus : Seasons 1–2 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: John Hannah, Maurice Phillips, Martyn Friend: DVD & Blu-ray |publisher=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=21 July 2017].
  8. Web site: Ken Stott (Actor) . Rebus : Seasons 3–4 (6 Disc Set) [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Ken Stott: DVD & Blu-ray |publisher=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=21 July 2017].
  9. Web site: Rebus : Season 5 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Ken Stott, Stella Gonet, Jason Hetherington, Bryan Larkin, Ron Donachie, Roger Gartland: Film & TV . Amazon UK . 10 September 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628215247/http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00140VSUQ . 28 June 2011 .
  10. Web site: Rebus: John Hannah, Sara Stewart, Ron Donachie, Gayanne Potter, Michelle Fairley, Paul Cunningham, Russell Barr, Mark Bonnar, Emma Currie, Hugh Ross, Anna Hepburn, Danielle Cook, David Moore, Maurice Phillips, Don Bell, Ben Brown, Ian Rankin, Mark Greig, Philip Palmer, Stuart Hepburn: Movies & TV . Amazon . 21 July 2017.
  11. Web site: Rebus – Set 1: Ken Stott, Claire Price, Jennifer Black, Tony Donaldson, Natalie Dormer, Andrea Hart, Richard Johnson, James McAnerney, Eileen McCallum, William Ruane, Elayne Sharling, Sharon Small, Alasdair Walker, Matthew Evans, Chris Buckland, Alan J. Wands, Eric Coulter, Daniel Boyle, Ian Rankin: Movies & TV . Amazon . 21 July 2017.
  12. Web site: Amazon.com: Rebus – Set 2: Ken Stott, Claire Price, Jennifer Black, John Hannah, Sara Stewart, Gayanne Potter, Ron Donachie, Rony Bridges, Norman Campbell Rees, Adam Smith, Forbes KB, Ewan Stewart: Movies & TV . Amazon . 10 September 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629183554/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PC6YTE . 29 June 2011 .
  13. Web site: Rebus – Set 3: Ken Stott, Claire Price, Jennifer Black, Gregor Gillespie, John Hannah, Sara Stewart, Gayanne Potter, Ron Donachie, Andrew Barr, Rony Bridges, Norman Campbell Rees, Forbes KB: Movies & TV . Amazon . 21 July 2017.
  14. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebus-Seasons-1-2-John-Hannah/dp/B001G5
  15. Web site: Top 30 Programmes – BARB. barb.co.uk. 11 February 2016.