Angela Lansbury slams remake of Murder, She Wrote

The popular crime show made her a household name and now Angela Lansbury is defending the title of the original award-winning CBS drama Murder, She Wrote.

Last month, NBC announced that Octavia Spencer will be starring in a contemporary version of the popular series, which ran for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996, and plans to name it Murder, She Wrote.

The 88-year-old spoke to the Associated Press saying: ‘I think it’s a mistake to call it Murder, She Wrote.’

‘Because Murder, She Wrote will always be about a Cabot Cove and this wonderful little group of people who told those lovely stories and enjoyed a piece of that place, and also enjoyed Jessica Fletcher, who is a rare and very individual kind of person.

‘So I’m sorry that they have to use the title Murder, She Wrote, even though they have access to it and it’s their right.’

The original Murder, She Wrote earned Angela international acclaim and 12 Emmy nominations for her role as a Cabot Cove widow and amateur detective with an uncanny knack for solving grisly crimes.

She said the show was her ‘greatest doorway to the world.’

“I suddenly became a worldwide-known character as Jessica Fletcher and really built an enormous audience, which I have to this day,’ she said.

‘That was the thing that really made me a star in the minds of everybody.’

As for the new series, Octavia will play a hospital administrator who publishes her first mystery novel.

The 43-year-old won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Minny in the 2011 film The Help.

Angela said she respects and admires Octavia’s acting ability. 

‘I saw her in The Help and thought she was absolutely wonderful, a lovely actress,’ Angela said.

‘So I wish her well, but I wish it wasn’t in Murder, She Wrote.’

Angela, a three-time Oscar nominee, will be receiving an honorary Academy Award during the 5th Annual Governors Awards taking place November 16 in Los Angeles.