Black Adder

[Galactus]

Atkinson Developing "Black Adder" Film
Posted: Tuesday June 20th, 2006 7:05am
Source: Virgin.Net
Author: Garth Franklin



When it comes to sitcoms in the 80's and early 90's, the British always done it better than anywhere else in the world - "Mr. Bean", "Fawlty Towers", "Yes Minister", "The Young Ones", "Red Dwarf" and "Absolutely Fabulous", and so on remain far smarter, wittier and more biting than any average episode of "Friends" or "Seinfeld".

Still, amongst all those there was one that truly stood out, and its name was "Black Adder". Now, the cult classic is headed for the big screen as Virgin.Net reports that a film version is in the production pipeline, 17 years after the final episode of the TV show aired in the United Kingdom.

Despite only 24 half-hour episodes and two specials having been made throughout its run, the series continues to have a loyal and ever growing fan base whilst many of its regular cast have gone on to major success worldwide such as Rowan Atkinson, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry and "House" himself Hugh Laurie.

Atkinson is apparently keen on reprising his role as Lord Blackadder, and comedian Ben Elton will once again serve as screenwriter. No word if fellow co-writer Richard Curtis, director of such films as "Notting Hill", "Bridget Jones Diary" and "Love Actually", will be involved.

The show followed the slimy Lord Blackadder and his ever suffering assistant Baldrick as they scheme and plotted ways to get rich or stay alive. There were four seasons of the show, but in a unique take each season was set in a different time period with some characters utilising the same name whilst others changed identities and personalities completely. Most though usually died in the final episode of each season.

The first season pegged the character as a somewhat weedy little coward during the Dark Ages, a trait which changed during the second and most popular season set in the court of Queen Elizabeth the First. From that season onwards he became a character rarely seen in sitcoms at the time - a complete and utter bastard driven totally by selfish gain. Last we saw of the characters was in the fourth season set during the first World War, and a subsequent special entitled 'Back and Forth' set in the year 2000. For more details, see the episode guide.

This movie is expected to be set during the Russian Revolution of 1917 where over the course of a year the ruling royal family of Tsar Nicholas II was ultimately replaced by the Communist Bolshevik party led by Lenin that paved the way for the formation of the Soviet Union.

Stephen Fry said on Monday "I chatted to Rowan at the weekend. He's been doing a 'Bean' movie in France and confided that he missed the joys of Blackadder rehearsals and all that. Ben wants to do a Blackadder movie set in the Russian Revolution with a Russian branch of the family. He has some brilliant ideas. Maybe it will happen".

Fry is also refreshing frank about his concerns as well "There's a lot of feeling that we left it on such a high note that it would be a bad idea to go back. There's nothing worse than an overweight boxer past his prime lumbering into the ring past his sell-by date".

 

[The Amazing Lee]

Strangely enough, I was looking up Blackadder last night.

Fantastic series and I yearn for Rowan Atkinson to go back to roles like he has done as Blackadder because he is fantastic!

He plays too many roles as a pompous idiot (in the same vain as Mr. Bean) and not enough as a smart, selfish and arrogant guy.

 

[OtepApe]

BlackAdder was an awesome series, it's probably my favourite comedy ever. It was brilliance. The last episode of Black Adder Goes Forth was fantastically well done and great way to go out.

Whilst I love the idea of seeing more BA, I just hope it's as good as the series. I don't want them going on on a rather lackluster note, rather then the all time high they went out on.

 

[logansoldcigar]

Did you know, there was a plan for Black Adder 5?

He was going to be an Member of parliament. Unfortunatly, Rik Mayall got in with the new statesman, but if you look, it fits the formula.

the scheming MP (blackadder, B'Stard)
the idiot colleague (baldrick, sir Piers Fletcher Dervish)
the duffer (George who ever hugh laurie played, and sir steven wotsit)

 

[Vapor]

Blackadder was a great comedy series, one of my favourites. I movie could be cool but only if it could continue the same high standards as the series. I'd maybe be a little worried because the Back and Forth special was a little lackluster. It's a shame Steve Coogan scrapped his idea for a Alan Partidge movie, that would have been awesome!

But wasn't there plans for a Blackadder 5, set in the 60s or 70s where they were all in a Beatles-esque band?

 

[Enzyme]

The Alan Partridge movie has been scrapped!? Noooooo!

And I love Blackadder as much as the next guy, and I too felt Back and Forth ws lackluster, so I'm having some issues with the idea of a movie.

 

[PLAS]

I saw the complete Black Adder DVD collection box set at Best Buy a few months ago and was curious to buy it... after all the praises, I suppose it must be good

 

[bluejake01]

Black Adder is quite simply the best comedy series to come from Britain...which is saying quite a bit for me. I almost gave that honor to Father Ted...but alas, the tragic death of Dermot Morgan, cut it's greatness short after only two series.

 

[The Squirrel]

Cool.

I hope all the cast members return if they do it.

 

[jaguarr]

Oh, this could be fantastic. That second season of Black Adder is some of the most memorably insane and funny television I have ever seen.

jag

 

[kane9321]

what the hell is this

 

[Armand Z Trip]

Great news. Looking forward to this.

 

[Dr. Evil]

So the movie will have Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder again and Tony Robinson as Baldrick again. Stephen Fry will have some role in the film (Melchett) and I assume Tim McInnerny will as well.

It's going to be difficult to get Hugh Laurie though.

 

[Vapor]

The Alan Partridge movie has been scrapped!? Noooooo!

And I love Blackadder as much as the next guy, and I too felt Back and Forth ws lackluster, so I'm having some issues with the idea of a movie.

Yeah that's what I thought. My mate at work told me about it, something to do with Coogan been unsure about the Al-Queda plot but I beleive he got the story from Zoo mag.. so it's not exactly 100% reliable.

I figure if the movie goes ahead with this plot then Rowan and Tony will play Russain descendants in the Blackadder and Baldrick family lines and Stephen Fry and Tim McInnery would play leadership/military type, ala Blackadder Goes Fourth, maybe even Stephen as Lenin himself. And I'm sure that Hugh Laurie would come back for friendship and old times sake. I'd hope they could get Rik Mayall back as someone in the Flash line too..

Anywhoo, series 2 was good but my fave series has always been 3. Some of the scenes between Rowan and Hugh as the prince are priceless and lets not forget the Dictionary episode with Robbie Coltrane.