Rowan Atkinson to 'reprise iconic role' in major comeback after six years

10 February 2024 , 19:46

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Rowan Atkinson to 'reprise iconic role' in major comeback after six years

Rowan Atkinson is set to reprise his role as secret agent Johnny English - six years later.

The last time the 69-year-old comedy actor starred in the James Bond parody film was in 2018, in Johnny English Strikes Again. But this is not the first time a fourth film has been the subject of speculation and it looked as though the rumours had little substance when Rowan denied reports. During a Reddit Ask Me Anything session Rowan shot down rumours when he said: "I doubt it but thank you very much for implying you'd like to see another one. But at the same time... never say never."

Reports claim Johnny English is set to make a comeback after six years off screen (WireImage)

Rowan Atkinson is expected to reprise his role as secret agent Johnny English (Getty Images)

But now, it looks as though Rowan may have been throwing fans and the media off scent as details have recently emerged claiming a fourth film is on the way. According to Screen Daily, which is a movie-based website, filming is expected to begin this summer. As yet a title has not been confirmed but production is set to kick off in June in Malta and the UK.

Similar to previous films, the website reports that this film will be produced by Working Title Films, which is an off-shoot of Universal Pictures. In the first film Rowan, Ben Miller, Natalie Imbruglia and John Malkovich took part in the blockbuster hit in 2003.

Johnny English Reborn followed eight years later in 2011 which starred Dominic West, Rosamund Pike, and Daniel Kaluuya. And the last instalment was Johnny English Strikes Again which was released in 2018. But this is not the only bit of news to excite fans as it was recently reported that an animated version of the popular TV series Mr Bean is also set to return.

Blackadder return confirmed by Richard Curtis - but without major star

Titled Mr Bean: An Animated Series, which is voiced and executive produced by Rowan Atkinson himself, has been commissioned for a fourth season. Set to air in 2025, it will be available to watch on ITV and ITVX in the UK, as well as Warner Bros Discovery worldwide.

The character will return with his sidekick Teddy as they embark on a series of adventures throughout 52 episodes. This comes 35 years after the original Mr Bean, which was co-created by Rowan and film director Richard Curtis, who went on to become famous for films including Four Weddings And A Funeral, Love Actually, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones.

Speaking about the animated series, Rowan said: “I have always enjoyed this iteration of the Mr Bean character and the particular freedoms he has in animated form. We can take him into space or down a tin mine, without me personally having to suffer the consequences. The animated process creatively is always fascinating and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the new series very much.”

But it seems that Rowan did not enjoy playing Mr Bean himself. He said: "I don't much enjoy playing him. The weight of responsibility is not pleasant. I find it stressful and exhausting, and I look forward to the end of it. I don't actually like the process of making anything - with the possible exception of Blackadder, because the responsibility for making that series funny was on many shoulders, not just mine."

Lucretia Munro