What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1199154
T2 WHATS UP! January 12 - 18, 2020 BY FRANCIS BABIN TV Media N ext year marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most groundbreaking achievements in cinema histo- ry. The first chapter in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic Middle-Earth trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," was released in late 2001 to critical and commer- cial acclaim. After decades of failed big-screen adaptions, the fantasy series was eventu- ally brought to life by Peter Jackson ("They Shall Not Grow Old," 2018) and forever changed the Hollywood land- scape. But there are many works of Tolkien that have never re- ceived the Hollywood treat- ment, works that are arguably just as important and relevant as the Lord of the Rings series. There are many authors in this same boat, and one of the most notable is Jane Austen. "Pride and Prejudice" has been recre- ated hundreds of times for television, the big screen and the stage (the 1995 BBC pro- duction has yet to be topped, in my opinion). "Emma," "Sense and Sensibility," "Man- sfield Park," "Persuasion" — all of these wonderful novels have been adapted in some form for global audiences. But Austen's "Sanditon" has been largely ignored by the film and television industries. Admittedly, an unfinished book, even by one of the most popular writers in history, doesn't seem like an obvious choice for a TV adaptation. But on Sunday, Jan. 12, PBS will take you back to the Re- gency era and introduce you to some wonderfully colorful characters as "Sanditon" comes to life on PBS as part of its "Mastepiece" program. After the great success of last year's "Les Misérables," legendary scribe Andrew Da- vies has once again set his sights on a lofty work from one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time. When Austen came down with a mysterious illness in 1817, she decided to take her mind off her failing health and focus Rose Williams stars in "Sanditon" Seaside romance continued on page T10 TV FEATURE