MTV Orders U.S. Remake of U.K. Teen Drama "Skins"

[JamesG]

MTV Orders U.S. Remake of U.K. Teen Drama "Skins"
by Kim Potts
posted May 11th 2010


Move over "Gossip Girl", and kids of "Degrassi" and "90210":
Some new randy teens are coming to America.




MTV has ordered 10 episodes of a U.S. remake of the hit British teen drama "Skins", which airs on BBC America in the U.S.

The remake, like the original, will be written by a young staff and will star unknown teen actors and actresses.




The British series, which completely replaces the cast every two seasons, featured a then-unknown Dev Patel, who went on to star in Slumdog Millionaire, in the first two seasons.





According to Deadline, MTV series development exec Liz Gateley (who brought addictive series like "Laguna Beach", "The Hills" and "Teen Mom" to the cable network) pursued the rights to remake the show for almost two years, and last August her passion project was finally ordered as a pilot for MTV.

Original "Skins" co-creator Bryan Elsley wrote the pilot and will be an executive producer on the remake.





The remake is reportedly set in Baltimore, and though the raunchiness may be toned down, the show will still revolve around hot-button topics.

The original series, which has aired for four seasons and is scheduled to air at least two more on BBC/BBC America, has covered topics like sex, teen pregnancy, drugs, mental illness, murder, suicide, eating disorders and death.


A big-screen "Skins" movie, focusing on the characters from the third and fourth seasons, is in development.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/11/mtv-skins/

[JT]

I liked the first two series of the UK show, so I'll give it a shot, but I'm not getting my hopes up. They changed one of the most important things about the original show, and it really bothers me.

Plus, I'd love it if the TPTB would stop acting like Skins is so realistic. It's not. Not by a long shot.