A film version of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2007 production of “King Lear,” directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Ian McKellen, is headed for television screens in the United Kingdom, United States and Japan. But this past weekend, American television critics weren’t as interested in McKellen’s interpretation of Lear as they were in the possibility that he would appear naked in the movie.
The frenzy started when Paula Kerger, President and CEO of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) told a Television Critics Association meeting that the film will be shown on PBS in the spring of 2009. Kerger told journalists that she saw the play during its run in New York and recalled thinking, “This is the kind of thing people should have a chance to see.” Kerger added, “My goal is to bring theater, dance and the arts back to PBS.”
Nunn’s production includes a scene in which McKellen appears naked as Lear descends into madness. One television critic, who was aware of this fact, quickly asked Kerger whether nudity would be acceptable for public television.
“The film is just being — it’s just been shot and — I haven’t actually seen the final version yet,” Kerger replied.
When the reporter wasn’t satisfied with that answer, Kerger revealed that PBS would show the movie to the media at a press tour in January, adding, “Let’s talk about this in January, okay?”
Still under pressure for a yes or no answer, Kerger finally told reporters, “It’s not — it’s what I think about it and also what the FCC will allow. So we’ll cross that bridge — we’ll bring it to you in January.”
The Federal Communication Commission has stepped up enforcement of decency standards in recent years, levying fines against broadcasters for profanity and nudity.
The fact that Kerger did not definitively answer the question of whether or not the 69-year-old McKellan will appear naked on screen has continued to generate media buzz since the weekend news conference.
It appears we’ll have to wait until January for the answer.
Below is partial transcript of the question and answer session:
Q. In the “King Lear” stage production, Ian McKellen does a full-frontal-nude scene on stage. How are you going to deal with that on the screen?
A. The film is just being — it’s just been shot and — I haven’t actually seen the final version yet, and it will be broadcast next year. We’re actually going to bring it to press tour in January, so you’ll have a chance to see it then.
Q. What do you think about — that’s a pretty talked-about moment in the stage production where he’s fully nude. How do you feel about showing that in its entirety?
A. Well, again, I haven’t seen the taped version yet, so I can’t tell you -
Q. But would you be okay with that?
A. About the full-frontal nudity?
Q. Yes.
A. Let’s talk about this in January, okay?
Q. Oh, come on. You’re familiar with the scene, though, right?
A. I saw the production, yes.
Q. And what do you think about showing that on PBS?
A. Well, it’s not — it’s what I think about it and also what the FCC will allow. So we’ll
cross that bridge — we’ll bring it to you in January. Ask me the question again, and I promise you -
Q. My readers can’t wait that long.
A. Oh, yes, they can.
…..
Q. The Ian McKellen question, I’d like to go back to that. What did you, as a theater-goer, think of it when you saw it in the theater?
A. I think it’s an extraordinary ensemble cast… “King Lear” is a very interesting play on many levels. It happens to be one of the most taught plays in high school. I think it’s the third-most taught after “Hamlet” and “Romeo & Juliet” …There were many moments in that production where you could have heard a pin drop in the room … this is the kind of thing that more people should have a chance to see. And so that’s why we were very interested in capturing it on film.
Q. But I meant what did you think of the nude scene?
A. It’s very –
Q. You personally.
A. Me personally?
Q. Yes.
A. It’s powerful. His entire performance is quite powerful.
The exchange finally conclude when another reporter took the microphone and said, “I have a couple of unrelated questions,” to which Kerger replied, “Don’t ask me about Ian McKellen again, okay?” The reporter answered, “No, no attraction to me.”
“King Lear” is scheduled to be broadcast in the UK on December 26, 2008 on Channel 4. It will be broadcast in the U.S. in the spring of 2009 as part of PBS’s Masterpiece Theater series.
