At the TCA press tour, Michael Lombardo, HBO’s president of programming, spoke about the future of No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Though it won’t be continuing as a TV series, there are plans to continue the story in the form of two movies.
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency ran for seven episodes on HBO, from March until May in 2009. The comedy-drama was filmed on location in Botswana and follows Mma Ramotswe as she operates a detective agency. The cast includes Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose, Lucian Msamati, and Desmond Dube.
This weekend, Lombardo said, “We’re talking to our friends at the Weinstein Company about the possibility of, and actually developing two scripts, possibly to do two movies. And if we can get the cast together and if everything can come together we’ve love to do it. So it’s alive.”
If they get the final go-ahead, the two HBO movies would likely be shot back-to-back. It seems they won’t be filmed completely in Botswana however.
It was reported last month that the show’s producers had relocated from Botswana to Cape Town. The Botswana government, hard hit by the recession, balked at the idea of subsidizing film production while South Africa doubled their rebate offer.
If the movies are actually made, they’ll be filmed mostly in Cape Town with occasional lensing in Botswana, the locale where the story is set.
What do you think? Are you a fan of No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency? Would you like to see it return as a pair of movies?
Image courtesy HBO.
I love the series & was really hopping to see season 2 as well. I hope you will bring back the series but the movies will be OK for teaser…
I became a fan of the #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels quite by chance…the cover caught my eye. I’m still working my way through them, and in the meantime, I loved everything about the series!!! I hope there is a 2nd season in the works and guess I’d SETTLE for a movie version. The series was an absolute jewel in the crown of HBO, and I wish more people would support QUALITY programming that the entire family can view and enjoy together.
I loved the books and just got into the HBO series. Was disappointed that it wasn’t continued. Yes, I would be interested in movies.
My family and i really, really loved the series. I agree with everyone who has said that it HAS to come back as a series. We were all suprised when the series did not come back to HBO because it was so popular. I loved the entire cast, especially the gay african guy…i think his name is Desmond something or other! Yeah that guy was off the hook funny! BRING it back, bring it back, bring it back, bring it back, …..!
Interesting news. Particularly since it contradicts Jill Scott. Saw her in concert recently and she announced to the audience that pre-production had already began on a second season on “No. 1.”
I just now finished watching the CDs. There is a gun in the hands of Mr. Matekoni’s nefarious housekeeper. What is going to happen??? This series HAS to continue! And I hope it continues as an HBO series. It seems a very good format for this series of books. The actresses and actors are superb. The direction is superb. The cinematography is superb. Keep it going!
I agree with everything this person says.
exactly my point, Shola. Who was she planning on hurting or even setting up. There was also a newspaper that said a person could get 5 years in the slammer for illegal gun. Was she planning on planting that gun on Precious? Wow. such an abrupt ending just makes no sense.
I’ll take anything, but would prefer a continued TV series. I loved this show. My wife loved this show. My 12 year old son and 14 year old daughter loved this show. My 70 year old father in law loved this show. I’d trade True Blood–which I much enjoy–for this show in a heartbeat! BRING IT BACK!!
I ordered the series on Netflix and surprisingly my 3yo daughter lovd to watch it with me over and over and over and over again. I need to see where I can buy the series so she can always have it to view. Its a great show but then anything with Jill Scott is great.
I loved the stories and the cast. It was one of the reasons I kept any paid channels. Most of them play the same things over and over, no wonder net flicks are the way to go. This series was one of the few reasons to keep me coming back. If I have to watch one more reality (fake) show I will have to film my life it is definatly more important and eventful than that crap. I will keep waiting to hear this series is back, than I will get HBO again.
I wish the series would continue. I’ve been reading the books now and was really looking forward to seeing it on TV. It seems that if a series is really geared toward the family no one wants to continue. But if it is violent and immorale let’s keep it on.
Although a few movies would be nice there is nothing like the individual stories that were told in the series. I wanted to see Jill Scott’s character grow, mature and evolve. These are the very things that a movie or two will gloss over. I so love the inter-play between Anika’s Character and the little boy. Who am I kidding I love all the interplay between the characters. Please, Please Please bring it back. I’ll be good okay. And by the way, I completely agree with Daniella Neveah Castro Simpson Brady Guitterazi Norbeck “Bones” is one of the dumbest shows… Read more »
I Will Watch Anything with Jill Scott in it.
she is a good actress and singer and is completely underrated in hollywood.
thank you for agreeing with me on the”Bones”
i hate that show and it is so stupid
but i guess if someone has big breasts then they will keep it on tv
instead of intelligent shows with a actual point to them.
We absolutely love the series – and bought the DVD to watch it once again. Actually we’d prefer the series to continue as a TV series. The books have so many great episodes that would make many series! Love that it was shot in Botswana and I’m sad that it will have to be filmed in South Africa instead.
I love the books. I loved the HBO series. I am looking forward to any new developments – either a new series or movies.
My family and I really enjoyed watching the show. Sad it’s canceled but happy that the movies could provide resolution. May have to buy the complete series
i dont see how a good series like this isnt going off the air
but crap like “bones” is still on
i swear i think some ratings are fixed
I loved the series and would love to see it return as a couple of movies.
I have season 1 on DVD and watch an episode just about every day. She is so popular those of us who had a chance to view her. She would be even more so if she had been continued. We want her back
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