Kaiser Chief Wilson, Donovan and Ellis ready to rock in War of the Worlds
Wayne described the use of 3D holography to present Neeson’s character
as a “technological leap forward”, and a new double album has been released to tie in with the tour.
Previous versions of the show, which first toured in 2006 and has since
been seen by over half a million people, featured projections of Richard
Burton, who voiced The Journalist on Wayne’s original 1978 concept
album.
Neeson, who has starred in films including Schindler’s List, Star Wars and Love Actually, said he was “flattered” to be inheriting the role from Burton.
Jeff Wayne
added: “After long consideration I concluded that for future
productions, some of HG Wells’ storylines and characters should be
re-explored … Perhaps the greatest opportunity was revisiting the main
character of George Herbert, The Journalist who threads the story
together … I believe audiences and listeners alike will find Liam’s
interpretation now less compelling.”
Neeson, who declared
himself a fan of the original album, will appear in three ways during
the show: as an 11-foot high hologram; within CGI sequences on a
100-foot ‘animation wall’; and as a ‘full body interacting
holographically with the show’s live performers’. He won’t be singing
though – “I only do that in the bath”, he said.
Jason Donovan, Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson and Wicked‘s Kerry Ellis have also been confirmed to appear.
The War of the Worlds – The New Generation plays at the Manchester Arena on 8 December.
