A Christmas Carol’s Guy Pearce reveals all about ‘brutal’ and ‘raw’ adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic

A CHRISTMAS Carol’s Guy Pearce has revealed all about the “brutal” and “raw” adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic. The 52-year-old Australian actor takes on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the series, which begins on December 22 on BBC One. While the classic novel focuses on miserable and bitter Ebenezer’s redemption after being […]

A CHRISTMAS Carol’s Guy Pearce has revealed all about the “brutal” and “raw” adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic.

The 52-year-old Australian actor takes on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the series, which begins on December 22 on BBC One.

BBC

While the classic novel focuses on miserable and bitter Ebenezer’s redemption after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, the latest adaptation is even darker.

Speaking to the Radio Times, Guy revealed: “This version feels pretty brutal. It’s very raw and rough.

“It’s not without hope, but it gets under your skin and will make people uncomfortable.

“Redemption is what we are looking forward to in A Christmas Carol.

FX

Guy Pearce plays Ebenezer Scrooge in the new series[/caption]

FX

“But in this version, the journey we’re taken on towards that is painful but beautifully handled.”

Guy is joined in the series by Line of Duty star Stephen Graham, who plays Scrooge’s late business partner Jacob Marley, while Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis plays a terrifying Ghost of Christmas Past. 

The chilling trailer released last month saw Andy sporting a long grey hair and a bushy beard and burning Christmas trees as he tells Jacob ominously: “It is the place where Christmas comes to die.”

Stephen’s character is seen being dragged along in chains by a horse and cart before reuniting with Scrooge and trying to make him see that their greed has had terrible consequences on the poor.

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The series takes a deeper look at Scrooge’s life and wicked ways[/caption]

FX

But Scrooge doesn’t care, offering Mrs Crachit (Vinette Robinson) money to help her poorly little boy in exchange for a sexual favour.

She replies – proving the series is not a kid-friendly adaptation – I am a woman and I have the power to summon such spirits…and I f***ing will.”

The Ghost of Christmas Past then visits Scrooge and tells him: “This is not a game Ebenezer, come and look upon the evil that you made.”

The trailer shows him the mines – where workers scream as the ceilings collapse on them – as well as factories full of people slaving away at sewing machines.

A Christmas Carol begins on Sunday, December 22 on BBC One in the UK and airs on FX in the US.

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