The Man Who Fell To Earth Adds Bill Nighy In Role Originally Played By David Bowie

Some hugely intriguing new details have now emerged regarding Showtime’s take on the classic sci-fi story, The Man Who Fell to Earth, as Bill Nighy has been cast as Thomas Newton, the character played by David Bowie in the 1967 original. The protagonist of both The Man Who Fell to Earth source novel and the original movie, the series will find Thomas Newton still stranded and turning to Chiwetel Ejiofor, alien newcomer Faraday, for help.

“I was honoured to be invited to play the part of Thomas Jerome Newton that glorious David Bowie made so famous,” said Nighy in a statement. “I was keen to work with Chiwetel and Naomie again [and] I am an enthusiast for shows which extrapolate from current technology and give us plausible glimpses of a possible near future. It’s an important story which, as well as being highly entertaining, discusses the crucial issues of our time. I like to think that the filmmakers of the original film would applaud Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet for their imaginative daring and loyal regard.”

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Based on the Walter Tevis 1963 novel of the same name, The Man Who Fell to Earth is a cult classic British science-fiction movie starring David Bowie as Thomas Jerome Newton, an alien who has come to Earth in search of water to save his home planet. Aided by lawyer Oliver Farnsworth, Thomas uses his knowledge of advanced technology to create profitable inventions. While developing a method to transport water, Thomas meets Mary-Lou, a quiet hotel clerk, and begins to fall in love with her. Just as he is ready to leave Earth, Thomas is intercepted by the U.S. government, and his entire plan is threatened.

Thomas Newton Has Been Left Stranded on Earth for 40 Years

     British Lion Films  

The upcoming series has been developed by Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet and, similarly to the original, will find the future of the planet in the hands of an alien who arrives on Earth at a pivotal moment in history. According to a report by Deadline, Nighy will step into the role of Thomas Newton all these years later. Having been left alone and desperate for some forty years, “Newton summons Faraday (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to complete his original mission. But Newton’s time marooned among human beings has cost him everything, possibly even his sanity.”

While it was assumed that The Man Who Fell to Earth series would be mostly a remake, the addition of Bill Nighy as Bowie’s character indicates more of a straight-up sequel. Though it is sure to be somewhat melancholic to see Thomas Newton return without the late, great David Bowie, the brilliant Bill Nighy is a superb choice to continue the legacy.

Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris, Jimmi Simpson, Clarke Peters, Rob Delaney, Sonya Cassidy, Joana Ribeiro, Annelle Olayele, Kate Mulgrew, Josh Herdman, and now Bill Nighy, The Man Who Fell to Earth has not yet been given a specific release date but is expected to debut on Showtime in spring 2022. Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet will write and executive produce the series and will serve as showrunners.