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.
Come on HBO…Number 1 Ladies Detective is one of the more creative efforts done by ANY network. But then you already knew that when you put it out. But, OH…I see….you didn’t get the numbers you wanted…OH WELL….right? Well, you are a business, but you DO STILL have a rep to maintain don’t you? Dropping this beautiful piece of work doesn’t help the image you have spent years developing. Think about it.
I read the books and loved them. I am a guy and its really odd for me to read this type of book. I read classics and typical mysteries and murder mysteries, etc.
The HBO series is helping me get through a horrible Febuary. Its great to see the normal people of Africa. In the news we dont see this .
I think the country was nuts not to subsidize the series. It would have raised interest in tourism.
Love it, orly like Dexter better!
Ken Mc
I see this article was published August 2010 and that comments are still being posted well into the new year. Wow! I just finished watching the series on DVD this past weekend. I was greatly inspired to learn more about African culture. Jill Scott did a great job in the series, as well as all of the actors and actresses. Each episode was very exciting to watch and kept my full attention. I would love to see the series continue, but if that is not possible, then I would love to see it as a movie.
I loved the show, I am in love with all the characters. I am sorry the series ended, but look forward to the movies. Hope it is out before the end of 2011.
I just discovered this series, No. 1 Ladies Dectective Agency and was totally enthralled not only by the actors, the stories, but also with the background of Botswana. Eager to find out when the next season would start you can imagine my disappointment to find out it was a series from 2008 and there are no more to come! I echo the sentiments of those who have posted before me, what a shame that someone who has the power to press the switch on this one didn’t realize the value of a show of this caliber. I’m tired of watching… Read more »
Why does HBO have very good series, and keep the ones that are just plain asinine . I am talking about Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bill Maher to name a few, only get us interested in really good programming like Deadwood, Carnivale and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and drop them without closure. I use to be a die hard HMO person, I started to watch HBO more again with Boardwalk Empire but now that Big Love is going away, there is not much to continue to watch on HMO. Shame on you for getting rid of a show… Read more »
I will miss the series. I really enjoyed getting to know the charactes and the developing chemistry among them. I do hope the make the movies!
My husband and I just finished watching the first series of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and eagerly looked to see if another series is coming soon. We are so very disappointed to find that there won’t be any. We finally found something refreshing, intelligent, educational, and wholesome. We really enjoyed learning more about the African culture. What a mistake that something so well done is not being continued.
I would urge you to reconsider cancellation as this series was excellent !!! We have read the McCall Smith books and there is lots of material for new episodes.
O.M.G.!……………Yeah, sure I would love to see the No.1 Detective Movies (if thats all I can get!) But would love it soooo much more to be able to see the series return. I still don’t have a clear understanding as to why it was pulled cuz I know without saying that the series was still alive and full of life! My mother and I made a few adjustments with our cable package but had been waiting to hear when the show was coming back so we could change our cable package back so that we can view the show. I… Read more »
UNBELIEVABLE! I absolutely LOVE this show! It’s ridiculous how HBO would have so many shows that are full of violence and sex and run them forever! This show was fabulous! I pay too much for cable and I watch too little of it. I planned to cut some premiums but I was going to keep HBO BECAUSE of “No. 1 Ladies” . But since they cancelled it, I’m cancelling them!!! No More HBO!
Loved the books….loved the DVDs. I am very disappointed that so entertaining a show wouldn’t be continued. Would love to see season 2,3 etc. but will settle for a movie.
We really loved No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. I understand the monetary reasons that HBO didn’t pick it back up. Other Shows that are more sensational draws more attention and more Nielson audience shares.
Never mind that this show is sweet, entertaining and wholesome. And it won a prestidigeous award. The almighty dollar wins out. Their programing is getting such I’m considering dropping the the HBO channels.
Come On HBO not every person wants to watch shows like Big Love, The Wire etc.
I’m so tired of these networks allowing us to fall in love with a show to then ripe it away from us. And like so many others HBO has done it to us as well, cancelled a show with no closure. I loved this show, it was so different and creative..there was nothing like it on TV. Not to mention there isn’t enough Black TV shows as is, this showed allowed us to see inside a different culture, the beauty of another country and watch something that wasn’t overkill with explicted sex or grotesque violence. This is a shame and… Read more »
I am very disappointed to hear it was cancelled. I really enjoyed the series. I just watched the first season on DVD and it was great fun!