Irons Charts 'Longitude' For A&E [Includes new update]
by Hollywood Reporter, BPI Entertainment News Wire
September 19, 1999
Oscar winner Jeremy Irons has signed on to star in "Longitude," an original miniseries for cable network A&E that will air near the end of the year. The project is based on a nonfiction book by Dava Sobel, about scientists in the 18th century who tried to invent the concept of longitude, and the clockmaker who eventually succeeded. Irons will play a 20th century man obsessed with restoring the clockmaker's apparatus. Michael Gambon plays the clockmaker.
The story is split between the discovery made by Harrison - played by Michael Gambon - in the 18th century, and the efforts of an injured former soldier, Rupert Gould - played by Jeremy Irons - who set out to recover Harrison's legacy in the 1920s.
Irons' film credits include "Man in the Iron Mask," "Lolita," "Chinese Box," "Stealing Beauty," "Die Hard: With a Vengeance," "The Lion King," "M. Butterfly," "The House of Spirits," "Kafka" and "Reversal of Fortune," for which he won Best Actor.
[Webmaster's Note: Original wire story dated April 23, 1999]