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 this series back! I am watching the videos for the second time and am totally loving them! It is a delight in every way, without the ugliness of so many shows today. I rarely watch commercial television but would tune in for this in a heartbeat.
I do not know why this series was cancelled. I agree with many others that have posted here, this show was a delight, no foul language and violence needed. I was fortunate to have a fellow medical student from Botswana. If the people of Botswana are like my friend and the characters of this show I believe they may be more “civilized” than any of the countries I have been fortuante enough to live in. I am glad to see season one currently running again on HBO. I wish HBO would have more original series like the #1 Ladies Detective… Read more »
Please bring back the series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a refreshing and totally different series. I would go to the movies, but don’t believe they will feel the same.
Idiots! Cancelling another quality and beautiful show that actually has value! I thought the regular network suits were stupid, but now Lombardo (HBO) is even more moronic. I had in the past applauded HBO and Showtime and STARZ for their multiple in-depth series and appreciated the risks they took by airing some very graphic and imaginative but entertaining shows (“Rome”, “Six Feet Under”, “Dexter”…) But now again one of my favorite shows is going bye bye. It was bad enough when it happened (often!) on normal network channels…now it’s a shame! Bring the series back as a SERIES!!!! Does anyone… Read more »
Why, why? Loved the show. Excellent quality programming to could be enjoyed by entire family. Was hoping for more only to find out it was CANCELED!!! Movie just doesn’t do it for me. Want the series back.
QUALITY PROGRAMMING THAT THE ENTIRE FAMILY CAN ENJOY! PLEASE BRING IT BACK…
I am a big fan of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. The stories are interesting and very heart warming. I look forward to more movies. I have viewed season #1 and would greatly enjoy a continuation.
Please bring the show back! Let’s see the movies mae soon.
I love this show! I agree that it is literally next to impossible to find a show this AMAZING yet still completly clean! I really really want there to be MORE seasons because I feel like I just started watching the first couple episodes and then its over! Especially when you start to develop a kind of “relationship” with the characters, you really get to know them and grow attached to them. Its upsetting for me to know that this show that not only I love but my parents, grandparents AND kids have all fallen in love with this series… Read more »
I just discovered via NetFlix the Ladies #1–I love it. I’m so sad to read this article. We need more quality shows like this one.
I accidentally happened upon one of Smith’s books while on vacation in Kenya. It was love at first read. Bought all the books.Then I discovered that at least two of my friends had read the series and one had the TV version. Viewing it was shear delight. Then my daughter bought the TVseries. I just finished viewing it again and immediately went online to purchase Season 2. There is no Season 2.WHYYYYYYYYYYYY?????????
How could the producer make this a movie? It’s to good to see once a year in a 2hr movie. Please, please bring this series back to TV. It will be No 1 or # 2 out of ALL the HBO series. I hope some other broadcast get a clue a pickup this series.
There are such few shows that don’t use violence, foul language, or half-naked people and yet are as amazing as this one. I kept waiting and waiting and found out it had been cancelled. Lunacy, I say! Please make the movies!!!!!
I accidentally found No 1 ladies Detective Agency while looking for something to watch. I was hooked from the first moment. I have watched them all so many times and have read the books. If the series is not coming back which would be sad I hope they do the movies I heard about. I love the show.
How could anyone cancel this series?!?! Nero Wolfe? Gone. Firefly? Gone. (The list could go on and on.) And now Mma Ramotswe? Do the suits have brains, much less hearts? Oh, what’s the point…? In any case, bring Precious back. I don’t care how or in what form, just bring Precious back!!! Personally, I enjoyed the films even more than the books, and that’s saying a lot; and this was mostly because of the perfection of the two ladies in the office. Please, tell me whom I have to bribe to get them back for more episodes!
EXACTLY RIGHT!! I completely agree this tv show is one of the best I’ve seen in a very long time. It is a master piece and those who say otherwise have no souls.
I completely agree, this is one of the best tv shows of all time and you, you empty suits have the guts but not the souls to cancel this master piece. This is an outrage!