It’s almost as if
Ricky Gervais was waiting for me to write an update before he announced the
official launch date for his new series Extras.
To reiterate, Extras has been
written and directed by Gervais and fellow The Office collaborator, Stephen
Merchant. Gervais plays a struggling actor constantly cast in belittling roles
and overshadowed by the lead-actors who are played by (some) real ‘A’ list
celebrities playing pastiches of themselves.
In the order of their appearances they are Ben Stiller, Ross Kemp, Kate
Winslet, Les Dennis, Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Stewart.
In Winslet’s episode her play on herself states that the only reason she
has taken a role in a film about the holocaust is to better her Oscar chances;
and in Kemp’s appearance we are privy to a more sensitive nature that belies his
onscreen hard man persona.
Gervais has already got Madonna on board for a potential second series
and is hoping to convince Tom Cruise too.
Extras begins its run on
BBC Two from Thursday July 21st at 9pm.
