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.
With All the unrest in this world and with folks looking for something concrete to hold on too…the LiL Series starts and folks get a sparkle that all is not lost. That other fellow(Perry ) can fill the air with nonsense and continue to thrive with such baffoonery; it is hard to comprehend. You all are in charge of what folks watch and this lil Detective Agency Show is spectacular. It has the comedy we all need. It has the Honesty we embrace. It has the acting that does not defile or ridicule any other and mostly it has the… Read more »
I AM GETTING REALLY TIRED OF GOOD TELEVISION PROGRAMS GETTING CANCELLED. i DON’T EVEN WATCH TV AND WHEN I FIND SOMETHING I LIKE, IT’S CANCELLED IN THE PLACE OF…CRAP. LET’S SEE IF BET CAN DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE AND PICK UP ANOTHER GOOD TV PROGRAM (THE GAME, THE ONLY OTHER PROGRAM THAT I DO WATCH, WAS THE OTHER).
Hated to see that the show was cancelled. Makes no sense, as it seems the decision-makers only want to offer crap instead of a quality series like >The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. There was something to look forward to in its storyline, quality actors, ad real entertainment, that was without the smut. I really enjoyed the series and am so very disappointed. Really, what are the producers and money guys thinking here? It is time to return to quality viewing over the television. There are plenty of shows that focus on sex, drugs, and other junk, this was really… Read more »
I was wondering why I hadn’t seen any promos for the new season! I really LOVE The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency!!!!! It was one of my favorite shows (and i don’t have a great many)!!! PLEASE BRING IT BACK as a series!!!! WHHHHYYYYY was it cancelled? It was THE show that my husband would actually sit down and watch with me…I think all the HBO shows in recent years have been awesome…especially this show! I will watch it as a movie, but enjoyed the series very much!!! Please reconsider cancelling!!!
I love this show. I want them to put it back on just like they did the Game. We need more postive African American sitcom. I mean we watch TV tooo!. I hope they make a movie . Please Fans lets get together and get thisshow back on!
This show was phenomenal. Good writing. Good acting. And it provided a look at a culture that television doesn’t offer explore … Africa! Bring it back. It is a wonderful, provocative program.
Wait, so HBO can continue outrageous shows like Big Love and Hung, but they can’t continue a show that is wholesome yet entertaining? This makes no sense. If the show’s producers can shoot two films in Cape Town, what is stopping the show from continuing at that location? There must be a better solution because a show like this is very hard to come by.
Do what ever is necessary to bring this back… there are fans out there that truly enjoyed the show.. it is a shame that some of the stupid show that is on air now stands the test of time.. but a black show… is this some type of racism.. lets hope not…. take note and listen to the fans and maybe actually reads the e-mails and letters you get……….
I loved this show and would love to see it return as a series, but if 2 movies is all that I can get, I’ll take it. Thanks HBO, lets please consider bring it back.
Love, love, love this show. Read all the books, but even though the series
presentation was slightly different, it doesn’t really matter. The actor’s, the scenery, the stories, more than make up for any deviation from the original stories as written by Smith. Precious Ramotse lives and should continue to
bring us joy.
loved the pilot and the seven episodes. i would love for hbo to bring back the show as a series. it was well written and well acted. i really enjoyed seeing the botswana scenery. please bring it back.
I loved this show, loved the characters, refreshing and not cookie cutter.
What, its been cancelled. I enjoyed the show, the characters, and I have read the books by Alexander McCall Smith. its’s nice to see characters with heart, purpose and a sense of humor. Another country but same concerns as every day people. I liked the scenery and I love Jill Scott.
i loved watching the no. 1 ladies detective agency. it was a great show. i was disappointed to find out that it was canceled and i would love to see the story finished in movies if its possible.
WE LOVED WATCHING THE SHOW – SUCH A RELIEF FROM THE TV MAIN FARE. I SEE THE BAD WRITING, BAD ACTING AND BAD SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS YEARS MAIN SHOWS AND AM SO CONFUSED AS TO WHO JUDGES THE SHOWS THAT MAKE IT. I’VE HEARD THAT NEW SHOWS ARE GEARED TOWARD 18 YEAR OLD MALES AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, THIS COUNTRY IS IN BIGGER TROUBLE THAN WE THINK. GIVE US AT LEAST ONE CUTE AND HAPPY SHOW WHERE GOOD DOES WIN OUT. SINCERELY, DIANNE