"Universal Pictures and Working Title Films are developing a sequel to the 2003 comedy Johnny English. Rowan Atkinson will again play the bumbling British spy in the film, which is eyeing an August start date.

While the original only made $28 million in North America, it earned $161 million worldwide. The film cost about $40 million to make.

Oliver Parker (St. Trinian's) is on board to direct from a script by Hamish McColl (Mr. Bean's Holiday)."

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=64901

______________________________________________________________________________

Yeahhh....random...

Apparently Rowan Atkinson's production team reads WOKJ because I called for this sequel last year in the review thread. (Sooner or later everything I've written here will come to pass.) The original Johnny English movie was a solid British spoof - - James Bond for kids - - that flew over the heads of American audiences. Rowan Atkinson has said he's done with his Mr. Bean character, so this is a natural place for him to devote his exceptional talents right now. I predict the sequel will more than triple the original's BO with a $500m worldwide gross.

It will gross less than the predecessor.

It really depends on the marketing. Atkinson has a big fanbase in Europe. If the film has funny marketing, it could perform on the same level as the first one, which was very profitable.

Casting update:



http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/johnny- ... -anderson/

Gillian does mostly theatre in London now and also independent films in addition to television work in the UK.

I would totally watch this.