NBC is sprinkling some fairy dust on its winter programming lineup and trying to make magic. The network signed on for Peter Pan Live! earlier this year, bringing along Girls actress Allison Williams to play the titular character and Christopher Walken to play Pan’s archnemesis, Captain Hook. This week, we’ve finally gotten a look at what Walken will look like in the iconic role. Take a glance, below.
In the image, brought to us by NBC and Peter Pan Live! producer Neil Merron via Twitter, we see Peter Pan and Captain Hook dueling it out among the sails of Hook’s brig, The Jolly Roger. Peter Pan’s dagger should be no match for hooks sword, but we should all know by know that Peter Pan is pretty nimble on his feet. While it’s nice to get a glimpse of the set for Peter Pan Live!, the real point of interest is Captain James Hook himself.
In the image, Walken’s wearing the red coat that made Captain Hook a famous character in the Disney version of the story so long ago. He also has on pinstriped pants and a stylish feathered hat. What makes Walken look so Hook-like, though, is the makeup on his face and the nod to a period in English history Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie described his character as a relic of in the original source material.
“His eyes were of the blue of the forget-me-not, and of a profound melancholy, save when he was plunging his hook into you, at which time two red spots appeared in them and lit them up horribly... A man of indomitable courage, it was said that the only thing he shied at was the sight of his own blood, which was thick and of an unusual colour. In dress he somewhat aped the attire associated with the name of Charles II, having heard it said in some earlier period of his career that he bore a strange resemblance to the ill-fated Stuarts; and in his mouth he had a holder of his own contrivance which enabled him to smoke two cigars at once. But undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his iron claw.”
Basically, what we are saying is that Walken looks the part, even if he tells EW he can’t sing, which is a problem of a different sort. Peter Pan Live! is actually based on the Broadway musical that hit the stage all the way back in 1954. Following the success of The Sound of Music Live!, NBC announced its newest musical endeavor all the way back in January, the musical is currently in the middle of the four months of rehearsal time the cast and crew need to be stage ready for the big night.
NBC’s Peter Pan Live! special is set to air during primetime on Thursday, December 4.
