Rebus (2000 TV series)

Did You Know?

• All three Ken Stott series were released on DVD in the United Kingdom in 2007.
• In Region 1, Koch Vision released the first series on DVD on 10 January 2006.
• In 2008 Delta released the John Hannah series in a four-disc box set.

Production

The first series differs markedly in format and style from later ones. John Hannah's portrayal of the world-weary detective was questioned by readers who felt he did not match their image of Rebus from the books. Hannah has said he felt forced into the role, having been executive producer, when his own choice, Peter Mullan, was rejected by STV. Hannah's interpretation used narration to expand insight into the character's thoughts, a technique absent during Ken Stott's tenure. The earlier stories retained the novels' darkness and were more faithful to original storylines, with longer running times allowing inclusion of Rankin's asides and sub-plots. "The First Stone" is the only story not based on a full Rebus novel, coming instead from a novella in a short story collection. "Knots and Crosses" shares a book's title but not its plot.

Cancellation

In February 2008, ITV cancelled Rebus, following reports that Ken Stott had informed producers he wished to step away from the role. The network mentioned that occasional one-off episodes might still happen. By April 2011, STV indicated a revival was possible, with a spokesperson stating the show would return eventually, though no concrete plans existed yet. In 2012, author Ian Rankin reclaimed the television rights, noting he had no intention of reviving the series in its current form, as he had previously criticized the shorter episode lengths used in later seasons.