If you think you know the story of About A Boy just because you watched the 2002 Hugh Grant movie based on the Nick Hornby novel, think again.
As the cast of the new TV adaptation of About A Boy tells ET Canada, the story in the film was merely a launching pad for many, many more stories to come.
Explains Minnie Driver, who plays single mom Fiona (played by Toni Collette in the film): “The pilot is the film, basically.”;
Adds David Walton, who plays the Hugh Grant role of irresponsible man-child Will, the series pilot “distills [the film] into 20 minutes very artfully and well.”;
Taking on roles played so well by other actors in a beloved film may seem daunting, which is why Walton admits he went out of his way not to watch the About A Boy feature film. “I actively avoided looking at the movie,”; he says, “because I didn’t want to be accused of… you know…”;
Driver, on the other hand, admits she’s a big fan of the movie: “I watch it all the time,”; she declares. “It’s one of my favourite films — I can’t not watch it — but I never think it’s what we’re doing.”;
About A Boy premieres Sunday, Feb. 23 on Global in a special timeslot before moving to its regular berth on Thursday nights.
You can catch ET Canada“s interview with the cast on today’s edition of Canada’s Entertainment Powerhouse, airing weeknights at 7:30 p.m. EST/PST on Global.