Bus wankers can sit this one out. Netflix announces that production begins today in the UK on feature film The Inbetweeners 3, a continuation of the hugely popular sitcom and its two record-breaking films.
The coming-of-age sitcom was originally broadcast on Channel 4 between 2008 and 2010. It followed the misadventures of suburban teenager Will McKenzie and his friends Simon Cooper, Neil Sutherland and Jay Cartwright at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive as they navigated school life, friendship and failed sexual encounters. It also had interesting side characters, such as the sarcastic head of sixth form Mr Phil Gilbert, Simon’s on-and-off love interest Carli D’Amato, Will’s very attractive mother Polly, and Neil’s heavily implied closeted father Kevin.
Over three series, it set new ratings records for the channel and won multiple awards. Two hugely successful Film4-backed movies followed, released in 2011 and 2014 respectively. The first went straight in at #1 in the box office and set a record for the biggest opening weekend for a UK comedy at the time of its release with the sequel also breaking box office records.
The platform gave a first look at the cast in their reprised roles more than 15 years after their last appearance in a short clip, showing them as young men getting into the battered yellow 1996 Fiat Cinquecento Hawaii edition car given to Simon Cooper by his parents after he passed his driving test in series one.
The Inbetweeners creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris will return to write and direct the film. The film will be produced by Claire Jones alongside Banijay’s Patrick Holland and Fudge Park Production’s Mark Lesbirel. Caroline Levy, Caroline Leddy, Phil Gilbert, Suzanne Knight, Tom Jordan, Farhana Bhula, Iain Morris and Damon Beesley will serve as executive producers. Beesley and Morris said: “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.“
Until then friends (ooh friend!), we will have to wait.
