The free-wheeling cop drama that put Hawaii on the international TV map in 1969 returns in what producers say was a re-imagining rather than a remake or sequel to the beloved original and with more emphasis on character.
“A remake suggests we are doing exactly the same thing again,” executive producer Alex Kurtzman told TV reporters.
“We felt we had to find the spirit of the original and bring it into modern times,” Kurtzman said, adding that the new version “pays tribute to everything that was good about the original show”.
Like the original hit show, the new version’s cop team hunts down criminals, often ending with the catchphrase “Book ’em, Danno!”
But the rebooted version aims to add more witty banter, character back-story and edginess to the formulaic detective work of the first series, which preceded a generation of crime dramas such as Magnum PI and Law & Order.
“You can do great action, and we do,” said executive producer Peter Lenkov. “But what’s fresh and different is the character development and humour.”
Filmed on site in Hawaii, Hawaii Five-0 aims to appeal to viewers by taking them to island scenes shot at sun-soaked beaches and landmark locations including Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace and Waikiki.
Australian actor Alex O’Loughlin plays Detective Steve McGarrett, originally played by Jack Lord. As a former Navy Seal, the new McGarrett has been recruited by Hawaii’s governor to lead a task force against criminals and terrorists intruding into the US through its Pacific islands.
“He’s part mercenary and his tactics are pretty crazy. He does whatever he needs to do to get the job done,” Alex said during a break from filming in Honolulu. “We have respect for what came before us, but we’re not drawing from the old show.”
Unlike his predecessor, Alex is more likely to go into a suspect’s house wearing a bulletproof vest, guns blazing.
The Australian actor has Jack Lord’s big shoes to fill after previously playing the lead in Three Rivers and Moonlight.
Alongside McGarrett is sidekick Danny “Danno” Williams (Scott Caan), a by-the-book detective who’s less than pleased with McGarrett’s full-speed-ahead attitude.
“I don’t think that he’s a bad guy or anything,” said Scott, who has appeared on Entourage.
“I just think he’s crazy,” he said. “That sets up the butting of heads and the personality clash.”
Rounding out the four-member team are characters Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua. Both were part of the original series, but this time they should get more prominent roles because the show won’t rely as much on McGarrett alone.
Another big change: Instead of Kono being the burly man seen in the series’ first run, the character has been transformed into a swimsuit-wearing rookie cop played by Grace Park.
“To be able to have the experience all over again and revisit it with fresher eyes – that’s something people look forward to, to have a new different experience,” said Park, who previously starred on Battlestar Galactica.
“Otherwise, we would’ve just rereleased the old DVDs again.”
Daniel Dae Kim, who plays Chin Ho Kelly, said the show’s reinvention of itself would emphasise more teamwork rather than always making McGarrett the primary hero.
“Our goal isn’t as much to improve on the original series as it is to adapt it to modern audiences,” said Daniel, best known for his role in Lost. “There’s a different storytelling style now.”
Lenkov said
its writers hoped to avoid the mistakes that led to the cancellation of other recent remakes such as Knight Rider and Bionic Woman. Both of those shows lasted only one season.
The characters in Hawaii Five-0 would be more three-dimensional than during the series’ first run, with their own troubled histories, unpredictable family ties and personal mistakes, he said.
Viewers shouldn’t expect the new McGarrett’s hair to always stay in place or for his decisions to always work out.
“Our Steve McGarrett – he’s a little more flawed than Jack Lord was,” Peter said. “That’s what makes him an interesting character. There’s a little greyness to him. I didn’t want him to be a superhero.” – Sapa-AP
l Hawaii Five-O premieres on Thursday June 23, M-Net at 8.30pm. - Sunday Tribune
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