{"id":50834,"date":"2024-05-06T22:00:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T20:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2035713"},"modified":"2024-05-06T22:45:43","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T20:45:43","slug":"christopher-eccleston-ive-never-been-a-huge-fan-of-sci-fi","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/christopher-eccleston-ive-never-been-a-huge-fan-of-sci-fi\/","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Eccleston: \u201cI\u2019ve never been a huge fan of sci-fi\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The former Doctor is fronting Radio 4’s adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth. <\/p>

By Morgan Cormack\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 06 May 2024 at 20:00 PM<\/p>

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Sure, it may not be the type of confession you\u2019d expect from a former Doctor Who<\/a> lead, but Christopher Eccleston<\/a> admits that he\u2019s \u201cnever been a huge fan\u201d of sci-fi.<\/p>\n

The candid admission comes in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine<\/strong> in which the actor sat down to chat about starring in BBC Radio 4\u2019s latest adaptation of iconic sci-fi tale, The Man Who Fell to Earth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the interview, Eccleston said:\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve never been a huge fan of sci-fi, with the exception of The Leftovers [the US sci-fi drama series in which he appeared] and Blade Runner. As a 17-year-old, I enjoyed the stories of HG Wells.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even so, Eccleston is complimentary about the genre, saying:\u00a0\u201cIt offers the opportunity for parallels, satires, to examine what it is to be human. It gives us an opportunity to look at ourselves through a different lens, which is always welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

The adaptation is based on the classic sci-fi novel by Walter Tevis and was first published in 1963 but has been the basis of plenty of adaptations since.<\/p>\n

\"Christopher\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor in Doctor Who.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The novel inspired the acclaimed 1976 movie<\/a> which featured David Bowie, as well as Prime Video\u2019s 2022 series<\/a> of the same name which starred Chiwetel Ejiofor and Naomie Harris.<\/p>\n

The premise follows an alien in a human disguise, Thomas Newton (voiced by Harry Treadaway) who arrives in Kentucky with a very specific mission to save the handful of survivors of his own dying planet and also, \u201csave humanity from itself\u201d.<\/p>\n

While the novel has been the subject of previous adaptations, Eccleston admits that this brand new one is an especially timely one.<\/p>\n

He said:\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s coming from a planet exhausted by a series of nuclear wars, and no doubt by exploitation of the planet\u2019s natural resources, which we\u2019re dealing with now with the climate crisis and global warming. There are huge painful parallels there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Christopher\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Christopher Eccleston.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nicky J Sims\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Speaking about the original novel also, Eccleston said: \u201cIt\u2019s dealing with man\u2019s inhumanity to an alien, and man\u2019s inhumanity to a man,\u201d he reflects. \u201cHe\u2019s assumed all our trappings, and he\u2019s destroyed by our curiosity, callousness and insensitivity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eccleston features in the audio drama as Treadaway\u2019s only friend, scientist Nathan Bryce, with Eccleston donning an American accent for the role. Speaking about the preparation for the job, he explained: \u201cI was made aware of the job on a Friday and recorded it on a Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was not much time to prepare, but I just went in and did my best. I\u2019m not somebody who\u2019s going to look for inspiration \u2013 like everybody else I steal, but I do it unconsciously, go with my instincts and my imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, True Detective fans will know that Eccleston is a dab hand at an American accent after having used one for his role in the latest instalment of Night Country, where he starred as police captain Ted Connelly alongside Jodie Foster.<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n