Why The Man Who Fell to Earth Show Cast Bill Nighy in David Bowie Role
Co-creator of Showtime’s The Man Who Fell to Earth, Alex Kurtzman, explains why Bill Nighy was cast in the role originated by David Bowie. Director Nicolas Roeg's original 1976 The Man Who Fell to Earth was an adaptation of Walter Tevis’ 1963 novel of the same name. The film follows Bowie as Thomas Jerome Newton, an alien who comes to Earth in search of water to save his home planet, Anthea, which is suffering from a severe drought. Unfortunately, Newton becomes addicted to human vices, imprisoned, and blinded before he can ever complete his mission.