The 1999 Russell T. Davies created UK series, Queer as Folk, has been put into development for second North American adaptation from the Bravo network. Davies will be executive producer on the new project, while Stephen Dunn is attached to write, direct, and executive produce, Variety has reported.
Through the studio Universal Cable Productions and Nicola Shindler of Red Productions, who executive produced the original show, and Lee Eisenberg of Quantity Entertainment Digital Rights Group, the upcoming drama will be produced.
The newer version will feature original characters in a completely different setting than the original and has been described as a “modern take that centers on a group of club-going friends who find support in the gay community following a tragedy.”
While in contrast, the first iteration chronicled the lives of three gay men (Aidan Gillen, Charlie Hunnam and Craig Kelly) living in Manchester’s gay village around Canal Street. Initially the former series ran for eight episodes, and had a two-part follow up called Queer as Folk 2 in 2000.
The other remake from 2000, which aired on Canadian cable channel Showcase and the American channel Showtime, was deemed the first hour-long drama on American television to portray the lives of homosexual men and women.The series ultimately ran for about five seasons and starred Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, Hal Sparks, Peter Paige, and Scott Lowell.
This particular adaptation was set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, although mainly it was filmed in Toronto. Various Canadian directors from Canada’s independent scene (Bruce McDonald, David Wellington, Kelly Makin, John Greyson, Jeremy Podeswa and Michael DeCarlo), worked on the series throughout its duration. Australian director Russell Mulcahy also directed the pilot episode.