Rowan Atkinson is to reprise his role as bumbling British spy Johnny English.
The Mr Bean star has been given a second assignment by Universal as the hapless James Bond wannabe and Variety reports shooting will begin in August.
The 2003 original, co-starring Natalie Imbruglia, cost 40 million dollars to make and only took 28 million dollars at the US box office, but grossed 161 million dollars worldwide.
St Trinian's director Oliver Parker will helm the sequel from a script written by Hamish McColl, who also penned 2007's Mr Bean's Holiday, which starred Rowan.
The actor originally created the comedy character of Johnny English for a series of credit card adverts he appeared in.
Some more details from Variety
Universal Pictures is bringing back bumbling British spy Johnny English for a follow-up assignment.
Studio and U.K.-based shingle Working Title have quickly assembled a sequel to the 2003 comedy starring Rowan Atkinson and are eyeing an August start date.
The 2003 comedy, which cost $40 million to make, earned a mere $28 million Stateside but did huge business overseas for a $161 million worldwide haul.
Move to resuscitate "Johnny English" comes on the heels of U scrapping its dramatic thriller "Cartel" five weeks before production was scheduled to begin, illustrating how the new Universal regime -- headed by Donna Langley and Adam Fogelson -- is far more amenable to making a safe illustrating how the new Universal regime -- headed by Donna Langley and Adam Fogelson -- is far more amenable to making a safe comedy than risking edgy fare like "Cartel."
Universal has suffered a string of disappointments with recent adult-skewing serious pics such as "Public Enemies," "State of Play" and "Green Zone." Speculation has been mounting for months that the studio is moving away from weightier projects and has begun to aim for the box office funnybone. Universal greenlit two pics just before Easter, both comedies: an untitled Kristen Wiig starrer being produced by Judd Apatow and the Ryan Reynolds-Jason Bateman vehicle "The Change-Up."
"Johnny English 2," which sees Atkinson reprising his role as the Brit buffoon, fits into a similar mold and will likely be made in the same budget range as the first.
Oliver Parker ("St. Trinian's") is onboard to direct.
Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are producing, and Debra Hayward is overseeing the project for the company. Former Working Title exec Chris Clark is also producing.
Hamish McColl, who wrote Atkinson starrer "Mr. Bean's Holiday," penned the screenplay.
"Those were the days when we still associated Bond with suave, old school actors such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore,"
"Daniel didn't have a hint of suave about him," - Patsy Palmer
I liked Johnny english, it was a lot better than I thought it would be and worth watching a few times. For me anyway. I remember talk of them making another a long time ago. Are the Bond writers coming back for Johnny English 2?
Chief of Staff, 007's gone round the bend. Says someone's been trying to feed him a poisoned banana. Fellow's lost his nerve. Been in the hospital too long. Better call him home.
