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.
Showtime’s The Man Who Fell to Earth serves as an extrapolation of Tevis’ novel and continuation of the 1976 film. The series takes place 40 years after Newton’s 'not so happily ever after' ending and follows a new alien, Faraday (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and a scientist, Justin Falls (Naomie Harris), as they continue Newton's mission to save his planet from environmental catastrophes. In episode 2, “Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed,” Faraday finds his former mentor in a more hardened, and borderline unhinged Newton. Now, the series’ co-creator has explained why Nighy had the honor of inheriting Bowie's role.
Related: The Man Who Fell To Earth Makes David Bowie’s Movie Ending Even Sadder
In an interview with EW, Kurtzman explained how, 45 years later, Thomas Newton is essentially an entirely new character in The Man Who Fell to Earth. However, bringing the character back still meant the actor and performance would inevitably be compared to Bowie. Therefore, Kurtzman explained that the part required «a legend,» but someone who wouldn't do a simple «David Bowie impression.» Eventually, the series found an actor who fit the bill in Nighy, who had even met Bowie on a few
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