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.
Please bring it back on. I just happen to see the DVD’s at the library and rented out. It is one of the best shows I have seen in many many years. I wanted to see how Jill Scott was going to figure out how the sneaky jeweler switched her ring again and I just love her assistant detective/secretary. My whole family just loves this show. Be daring and for a change stand up for quality shows for wholesome families.
I love this show and really hope HBO reconsiders bringing it back as a series. When No. 1 aired on ’09, it was so awesome being able to watch programming together with my mom, 14 year-old and 4 year-old nieces – and all of us sat through the entire show and enjoyed every bit of it! Come on HBO!!
This was one of the best shows ever!!! Please, please bring it back. I think it just didn’t get enough publicity. The actors were awesome…I watched every episode three times.
I do not have HBO, but my hair stylist told me about the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I bought the DVD of the first series, and loved it. Please bring it back in what ever fashion that is possible. It seems as if all of the good shows are taken off of the air while, bad shows continue on and on.
What a shame that a series as entertaining as this would be cancelled. I guess there was not enough gore, blood, murder, foul language and sexual content to make it popular. What ever happened to good clean entertainment????? Don’t you think that we should try to bring back series like this rather than cancel them???
I thought this show was incredible, so refreshing and inspiring. Bring it back some how!!
One Season was not enough, there is still more story to tell.
I agree with you Jeri. I think HBO has its head up its proverbial a**. What could possibly prevent them from showing traditional values, morals, and something the entire family could watch? Rather they choose to show vampires???? Must be their stand on today’s entitlement society – leech off someone else. Pitiful…. I hope someone out there has the cajones to bring Mma Ramotswe back in all her humble hard-working glory.
I am amazed that HBo has cancelled this great series and left such crap on as Big Love and True Blood. No wonder the western world is falling to pieces. I wish it could have remained on as a series. But if there will be movies so be it.
I LOVED Jill Scott and the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency! Please bring it back. It was great family tv.
Number One Detective Agency scored blue ribbon in my heart. It is a unique, appealing dramedy filmed in breathraking cinematography. Thank you for having the wisdom to create and televise it in the first palce.Jill Scott is talented; she’s a blessing. Ms. Rose is a jewel. I’m truly saddened that this show will not be back for the fall. I did hear tell they may make two movies. That’s of some comfort. But I hope SHO will have the courage and the sense to pick it up!!!
I agree… this is a quality show… would love to see a continuation, in a series or movies. The filming captured the essence of the books. Great actors. I don’t believe this aired in Canada… I just borrowed it from the library… enjoyed it immensely.
PLEASE BRING THE SHOW BACK IN ANY FORM YOU CAN I LOVED IT.
I loved the show and was so sad about it being canceled. It was very sweet and really touching. I would love to see more of the series in any shape or form. I love the characters and the actors are superb!!! Please bring this back!!!
Would prefer to see it as a series as it was nice just to sit and watch it on a regular basis, but if movies are the only choice, then that is better than nothing.
Can’t believe the show didn’t rate, maybe people just didn’t know about it, at least there are still the books.
Such loss of great television viewing. With so much violence and adult rated programming, itt was nice having a show the entire family could watch. It will be nice to have the movies, but i prefer the seasons back. They really did great job capturing the love and pride for Botswana in this characters. Really enjoyed bothe JIll SCott and Anika Rose.