Celyn Jones, co-writer of the upcoming Grange Hill movie, gives us an update on the state of the planned movie.
It’s been about a year now since we’ve had some solid information on the planned Grange Hill movie, that’s been in development for the last couple of years. Based on the iconic BBC children’s drama series, the film is being co-written by Sir Phil Redmond – who created the show – and Celyn Jones.
We learned a year or so ago that former cast member Sara Sugarman will be directing the movie, and Jones too also appeared on screen as Mr Green in the programme.
Jones has recently released his directorial debut, The Almond & The Seahorse, an absorbing drama that’s currently in cinemas. You can find out more about that, and book tickets, here.
He chatted to us for the latest issue of Film Stories magazine about that film, and just at the end of our conversation, we got a few words on where things are with the Grange Hill movie.
“Phil Redmond has written a really good script. We are just going on to finalising the draft”, he confirmed to us.
He also added that things are starting to move on the physical production side as well. “We’ve chosen a location”, he revealed, although what the location is remains to be seen (a school of sorts is my personal guess). “We’re going to sort of open up casting hopefully after the summer. That’s the plan. “
Mad As Birds, the production company that Jones co-founded, is to co-produce the movie along with Redmond’s Mersey Films. It sounds as though thing are moving to a position where filming could begin at the end of the year, although those are my words, not those of Celyn Jones.
We’ll keep you posted as we hear more. Grange Hill fans, incidentally, are well advised to check out the lovely podcast Sausage On A Fork too.
In the meantime, do consider checking out The Almond & The Seahorse. And you can read all about it in the new issue of Film Stories magazine as well
