How the re-imagining of Mother and Son came about and why there's a remake

How the re-imagining of Mother and Son came about and why there's a remake

When the creator of Mother and Son Geoffrey Atherden was approached by comedian, actor and writer Matt Okine to remake the beloved classic, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea.

"This wasn't the first time that someone had approached me and asked for approval for a remake," Atherden told ABC News.

"And I had always said no because I just couldn't see the point in doing another version."

There was something different, however, about Okine's proposal.

"I thought Matt was onto something that gave it a real additional and new value," Atherden continued.

"And that was firstly, the cultural aspects that Matt is half African. So, it tells a different kind of multicultural story about Australia. That wasn't something that was at all in my mind very much back in the late 70s, early 80s when I started developing the series.

"But as well as that, he said that the world has changed a lot. The kind of person that I wrote about as Maggie [would have] had a very different upbringing and experiences [as] a young woman from someone in that age group today and he wanted to bring that up to date.

"And as well as that we've had the royal commission into aged care. So, families would have a different kind of view about putting a member of their family into aged care now than was the case back then."

At the core of Okine's desire to remake Mother and Son was the fact that he loved the original series.

"Obviously, part of the reason of remaking the show was because I was a fan of the first one," Okine told ABC News.

"And actually, part of the reason I was a fan of the first one is because my dad used to watch it as well because he was a big Garry McDonald fan.

"So, I mean, there's a lot of people out there who are sort of saying, 'Oh, you know, you've got expectations on your shoulders, and big shoes to fill and stuff.

"But, I mean, I've got my dad that I need to impress more than anyone.

"So that's what I'm most nervous about. Because he's going to be a harsh critic out of everyone."

There was no question in Okine's mind who his co-star would be in the new series.

"Denise [Scott] was the reason why I came up with the idea of recreating it in the first place," he said.

"So, we were touring in Hong Kong. I remember just having a really good time with her, really admiring her as a performer and as a person.

"And I remember thinking, God, I wish that there was some way that me and Denise could be in a project together.

"And at the time, it was 2013. So, you know, things are changing in the Australian landscape. But I remember I kept thinking, 'But there is literally no world in which me and Denise would be on an Australian TV show. It just wouldn't happen.' At the time, I just couldn't see it.

"And then I had the idea. I was like, well imagine if we redid Mother and Son."

Taking on the new series
Okine said the new series, which premieres on ABC TV and ABC iview tonight touches on issues such as technology, the morality around tracking someone who is losing their cognitive abilities, and aged care in the wake of the royal commission.

It stars Okine as Arthur, and Scott as his mother Maggie. The character of Robbie, who was Robert in the original series and played by Henri Szeps, is now a woman in a same-sex relationship. Okine acknowledges this is something that wouldn't have happened in the original series.

"This absolutely would have been unheard of," Okine said.

"And that's just because Australia has changed in 30 years. And that's why we're doing it. We're doing it because Australia has changed.

"But I also think that people are reading into it too much.

"And I think that people think that we are trying to do something woke or doing some diversity, box-ticking exercise, but I came up with the idea that I wanted to remake Mother and Son, alright?

"If my mum was still alive, she would be a 60-something-year-old white woman.

"I also have a sister, who is older than me, who is half African as well. We have the same dad, the same mum. This is just what my house looks like."

He said any family that he's in is going to include both black and white people.

"I'm not trying to tick any boxes, I'm just living. So, it kind of frustrates me when that conversation consistently comes up because it sort of disqualifies the existence of so many Australians and how we are Australian today."

Okine is encouraging people to watch the new series and also re-watch the old one, with the original series available on ABC iview and Stan.

"We're not trying to copy anything," he said.

"People keep asking, 'Oh, are the oranges going to fall in the grave?' No! Are you kidding me? No way. I wouldn't touch anything that sacred."

Scott opened up to the Australian Women's Weekly earlier this month about being diagnosed with cancer just as filming on the new series was due to start.

"It was overwhelming," Scott told ABC News about dealing with the diagnosis.

"Because oncologists warn you about the fatigue, and the aches and the nausea. And of course, you know, you're going to have no hair and all that.

"But the level of it was pretty mind-blowing. And at times, it was quite overwhelming because I think I just don't know that I can keep going today. But I would think, well, I have to. And I found great joy when the cameras were rolling.

"I would just escape really, mentally, into the world of Arthur and Maggie. And I really would enjoy it.

"It felt like a respite."

Scott has had surgery and is currently undergoing radiation, with months of chemotherapy ahead. She says her prognosis is good.

Handling expectations
For now, she's excited for people to tune into the show tonight, but is also nervously bracing herself.

"I felt the pressure," she said.

"I'm not an idiot. I mean, it was everywhere. I literally walk down to my local shops and I'll have a shopkeeper say to me, 'You do know what big shoes you've got to fill, don't you?' with this look of horror on their face — or neighbours.

"When we were shooting the show. It was incredible. We'd be on location in Padstow at the shopping centre, and people would come up, and basically say, 'This is never going to work. It's just not going to work.'

"But I just couldn't let it get to me. I just kind of thought, 'Well, too bad.'

"I love the re-imagining of the show. And I love what the writers did and what Matt created. So that's what I've got to concentrate on and focus on. And hope that somebody else out there likes it."