Michael Keating reprises his role as Vila for new audio adventure

[vilakins]

From the Horizon newsletter comes this news:

Blake's 7 - The Early Years will be a prequel series of stories on audio from B7 Productions exploring the origins of key Blake's 7 characters prior to them meeting rebel leader Roj Blake.

The first of these prequel stories, When Vila met Gan, has been written by Ben Aaronovitch (classic Doctor Who, Jupiter Moon) and explores the history and enduring friendship between Gan and Vila. Michael Keating reprises his role as Vila, and Owen Aaronovitch (Coronation Street) also stars as Gan. An 'extended' special edition CD of When Vila met Gan will be released for retail on 2 June 2008, with a re-cut version to be broadcast on BBC7 in the summer.

Earth. 2230 AD. A time of social and political turmoil.Olag Gan wants to marry the woman of his dreams. Vila Restal wants to steal anything that isn't nailed down. When they form a partnership, a perfect combination of strength and skill, it seems that nothing stands between them and the easy life. But fate hates to give a sucker an even break and the course of true love never did run smooth.

Read the B7 Productions Press Release in the full news item on the Horizon website where you can also see the CD cover artwork.

I'm delighted that we're getting more B7 and with the original actors, but I'm a little dubious since this is from B7 Productions whose other audios are so out of character. Also the year gives me pause: shouldn't it be the New Calendar and at least 1000 years from now? Still, I'll buy it because it will be closer to the Vila I know and love with Michael Keating playing him.

Comments

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering... somehow I can't see Gan turning to crime simply as a career move. I had the feeling he'd consider that immoral (his attitude towards the Terra Nostra as a case in point.)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes, another OOC point. I'm a little worried about what they're going to do to them both. If it wasn't MK, I wouldn't even consider buying it.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

*nods* Hey, if Michael was reading the 'phone book, it'd be worth listening to. :^)

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

oooh, I'll certainly give it a go!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I suppose it can't be worse than 'Sevenfold Crown' and 'Syndeton Experiment' and those were amusing and entertaining if rather OOC.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Sevenfold Crown" had me laughing up my lungs. I've no idea if that was what the creators intended, mind you...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think some of it was, but I doubt the whips and the wolf-snakes were and they kill me each time.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh gods, yes, the whips. I'd forgotten. *giggles*

[hafren.livejournal.com]

I'm 'orribly dubious too, though glad for MK getting the work. But in my mind, canon will always begin at TWB and end at GP; everything else is our sandpit....

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I don't include the S4 audio plays either. But I can't pass up MK as our Vila even if they butcher his and Gan's characters.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

exploring the origins of key Blake's 7 characters

(boggles) does... does this mean we shall see an alternative to A:ATA? Please don't tell me they're running with PD's version!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

He's not involved with them any more, so I assume--and hope--not. :-P

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I could use a good laugh or twenty...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Eep. And they are going to do Avon (see steverogerson's post on blakes7) along with Jenna, Cally, Travis, and Servalan.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

{snicker} we could always annoy them by writing and demanding to know where the double-bladed serrated knives etc are...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

All I know of that work is what was quoted on Freedom City (Avon fleeing to Uranus and all), and I'm rather glad about that.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I've read some of it.

Be glad. Be very very glad.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I've SEEN a double bladed serrated knife but unfortunately not in action. It was a friend's electric carving knife.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I'll buy it because it will be closer to the Vila I know and love with Michael Keating playing him.

Ditto :0)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

How could we not?

B$even

[executrix.livejournal.com]

But, quite apart from anything else, wasn't Vila more of a consulting safecracker than someone stealing everything mobile? Although I can sort of see Gan as Mickey Bricks and Vila as Danny Blue (and Jenna as Stacie!)

Re: B$even

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think the kleptomania idea comes from Vila taking Blake's watch and trying for his wallet (very out of character when you look at his skills) and Blake's comment in 'Cygnus Alpha' about the teleport: "It's a bit like your property when Vila's around. [pause] Suddenly it's somewhere else."

To me, Vila's very much a safe cracker and doesn't show any tendency after TWB to steal everything he can. In fact he doesn't take anything at all (deciding against the alien's ring) unless you count the fake Feldon crystals left behind by Belkov.

I'm not very optimistic about what they'll do to his and Gan's characters.

And that's a pastiche I'd like to read! [looks hopeful]

Re: B$even

[executrix.livejournal.com]

I think I kind of shot my bolt with Firefly x Hu$tle.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Why, this is very good news! B7 again!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Even if they mangle the characters like they have in both sets of audio plays, I'm still looking forward to hearing Michael Keating as Vila again.