Fans of The Inbetweeners have reason to rejoice, as the legendary British coming-of-age comedy could soon be back on screens, reports Variety.
Banijay UK has joined forces with Fudge Park Productions, the company founded by original creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, in a new deal that “paves the way for the return of the hit comedy title.” While details about the format and platform remain under wraps, the creators hinted that the revival would revisit the original group of misfit friends.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends),” Morris and Beesley said in a joint statement.
Originally airing on E4 between 2008 and 2010, The Inbetweeners chronicled the misadventures of socially awkward teenager Will MacKenzie (Simon Bird) and his equally hapless mates Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas), Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison), and Jay Cartwright (James Buckley) at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. A sharp and crude antidote to the stylised angst of Skins, the series captured the painfully relatable awkwardness of adolescence and became one of Britain’s most beloved comedies.
Over its three-season run, The Inbetweeners broke viewing records for E4 and scooped multiple awards. Its success led to two box-office-smashing spin-offs, The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014), both of which became landmark hits in British film comedy.
The new partnership gives Fudge Park and Banijay “the rights and potential to bring The Inbetweeners back for new audiences across a range of platforms including film, TV and stage.”
“We’re thrilled to announce this partnership with Banijay, who share our vision for one of the most iconic comedies in British history,” said Fudge Park’s managing director Jonathan Blyth. “This is a wonderful moment for fans, there are exciting conversations afoot and more news to follow.”
Patrick Holland, CEO of Banijay UK, added, “I’ve worked with Damon and Iain on a number of projects and was delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of The Inbetweeners. Their creative energy for the brand will resonate with audiences old and new, and I can’t wait to get going.”
Since the series’ end, Morris and Beesley have continued to shape British comedy. Together, they made The Festival and BBC’s The First Team, while separately Beesley created White Gold, and Morris co-wrote Next Goal Wins with Taika Waititi and directed Netflix’s My Oxford Year.
More than a decade since the lads last graced screens, fans might soon see Will, Simon, Neil, and Jay stumble through adulthood just as awkwardly as they did through adolescence.
