I’ve seen tons of commercials recently with Elijah Wood, and a man dressed in a dog suit. I’ve been quite perplexed, and was honestly somewhat put off by the visuals until I FINALLY found the explanation for the ads. To be 100% honest, I was somewhat impressed. So as I’m not one for advertising major network shows, here’s the scoop on Wilfred.
There’s been a number of overseas shows being adapted for US audiences… Top Gear, Being Human, and Skins, just to name a few. FX has picked up Wilfred, a remake of the acclaimed Australian series about “an introvert who struggles to find social and professional happiness, until he meets ‘Wilfred’”, his attractive next door neighbor’s Australian Shepherd. To everyone else, Wilfred is a dog, but to the introverted Ryan (played by Elijah Wood), Wilfred is a man dressed in a dog suit. Wilfred is “Ryan’s alter-ego intent on pushing Ryan out of his shell,” or as described by series showrunner David Zuckerman (co-developer of Family Guy), he’s “part Australian Shepherd, part Russell Crowe on a bender”.
The series was developed by Zuckerman, who also wrote the pilot. Jason Gann, co-creator of the original show, is reprising his role as Wilfred. FX has ordered 13 episodes based off the pilot, set to premiere summer 2011.
