Entertainment
Netflix Confirms 'Inbetweeners' Reunion Film, Shares First Look as Filming Begins
Netflix has confirmed that a reunion film for The Inbetweeners is now in production, with original stars Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison and Joe Thomas returning to their roles from the beloved series and films. The announcement puts an end to months of rumors surrounding a potential revival of the coming-of-age sitcom, which followed the misadventures of teenager Will McKenzie and his friends Simon Cooper, Neil Sutherland and Jay Cartwright. The original series aired on Channel 4 from 2008 to 2010.
Alongside the announcement, Netflix released a brief clip offering fans their first glimpse of the cast in character, more than 15 years after they last appeared together. The footage shows the four actors, now grown men, with the battered yellow 1996 Fiat Cinquecento Hawaii edition car that Simon Cooper's parents gave him after he passed his driving test in the show's first series. No details about the plot have been revealed. The original series and its accompanying films depicted the characters navigating school, friendship and awkward romantic encounters at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive.
Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, who created The Inbetweeners, have returned to write and direct the new film. It will be produced by Claire Jones, along with Patrick Holland of Banijay and Mark Lesbirel of Fudge Park Productions.
"It's been super-fun hanging out with our friends again, and we're going to work hard every week to ensure there are no problemos making this new film for humans," said Beesley and Morris, who are also serving as executive producers. They are joined in that role by Caroline Levy, Caroline Leddy, Phil Gilbert, Suzanne Knight, Tom Jordan and Farhana Bhula, representing Film4.
The original Inbetweeners series achieved record ratings for Channel 4 across its three seasons and later inspired two Film4-backed feature films, released in 2011 and 2014. The first film debuted at No. 1 at the box office and set a record at the time for the biggest opening weekend for a British comedy. The sequel also broke box office records.
Speculation about a possible return for the franchise began last October, when Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland revealed that the team was "plotting more adventures," referencing an agreement between Banijay UK and Fudge Park Productions established more than a decade earlier.