Merlin (2008 TV series)
A reimagining of the Arthurian legend focusing on Merlin and Arthur.
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It was conceived by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps, who were influenced by the US show Smallville.[1][2] In this version of the story, Merlin is depicted as a young man living at the same time as Arthur, and he conceals his magical abilities because Camelot has outlawed sorcery.[1][3]
Making and release
The BBC commissioned Shine to develop scripts for a Merlin series in late 2006, aiming for a 2008 broadcast.[4] Controller of BBC One Peter Fincham and BBC Head of Fiction Jane Tranter ordered the project.[5] Chris Chibnall had developed an earlier, uncommissioned Merlin project for a Sunday night slot.[5][4] The series was produced by Shine in association with BBC Wales, with Julie Gardner as executive producer.[6][1]
Russell T Davies influenced the tone and style of the series, according to Julie Gardner.[6][1] The co-creators later stated that "advanced talks" about a trilogy of Merlin movies did not come to fruition.[7] Filming for the show started in March 2008, taking place in Wales, at the Château de Pierrefonds in France, and at two sites in Kent: The Barons Hall and Garden Tower at Penshurst Place, and Chislehurst Caves.[6] A 13-episode first season of Merlin started airing on UK television on 20 September 2008.[5]
On 26 November 2012, the producers confirmed that the fifth season would be the show's final one, ending with a two-part Christmas special.[8]
What the cited sources add
A Guardian article from 2008 notes that the 13-part series aimed to update the King Arthur legend for a modern audience.[1] The same article states that Colin Morgan, then 22, played the young Merlin.[1] A BBC Press Office release from July 2008 lists the main cast as Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Angel Coulby, and Katie McGrath.[3] The documentary was a 30-minute programme broadcast on BBC Two Wales in November 2009.[9]
A BBC Three behind-the-scenes series, "Merlin Secrets and Magic," covered the making of the show.[10] That same press release states that John Hurt provided the voice for the dragon and Michelle Ryan portrayed the sorceress Nimueh.[1][3]
References
- Sweeney, "Merlin: BBC cues up TV and cinema ads", The Guardian, 29 August 2008. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
- Wikipedia, "Merlin (2008 TV series)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sweeney, "Merlin: BBC cues up TV and cinema ads", The Guardian, 29 August 2008 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Merlin's secrets revealed", BBC Press Office, 23 July 2008. facts only, no text reused. bbc.co.uk
- Deans, "BBC 1 seeks magic touch for Merlin drama", The Guardian, 7 December 2006. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
- Wikipedia, "Merlin (2008 TV series)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Deans, "BBC 1 seeks magic touch for Merlin drama", The Guardian, 7 December 2006 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Merlin (2008 TV series)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Richard Wilson and Anthony Head lead cast in Merlin, a fantasy drama for BBC One", BBC Press Office, 17 March 2008; Sweeney, "Merlin: BBC cues up TV and cinema ads", The Guardian, 29 August 2008; Kent Film Office, "Kent Film Office Merlin Film Focus", 4 February 2008; Sweeney, "Merlin: BBC cues up TV and cinema ads", The Guardian, 29 August 2008; Sweeney, "Merlin: BBC cues up TV and cinema ads", The Guardian, 29 August 2008; "Merlin's secrets revealed", BBC Press Office, 23 July 2008; "Merlin: The special effects", BBC; "Merlin en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Merlin (2008 TV series)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Merlin co-creator: 'We talk a lot about exploring the legend again' Radio Times", www.radiotimes.com; Radio Times, "Merlin Q&A with the series creators", 2020-04-21; "Merlin", www.bbc.co.uk (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Merlin (2008 TV series)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Merlin commissioned for fifth series | TV: Latest News | STV Entertainment", Entertainment.stv.tv, 25 July 2011; "Merlin to cast final spell as creators reveal that current series will be the last", 26 November 2012; "Merlin to end with a two-part special this Christmas", Telly Visions (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "BBC Two – The Real Merlin and Arthur", BBC. facts only, no text reused. bbc.co.uk
- "Merlin Secrets and Magic – Next on – BBC Three", BBC. facts only, no text reused. bbc.co.uk
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Merlin (2008 TV series) (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Merlin (2008 TV series) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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