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.
What a disappointment! Last year I purchased season 1 and my family watched every episode on Thanksgiving day. We had planned to make this an annual event. It is incredible that this wonderful family friendly series can be canceled, while vampire lovers continue on. Shame on you HBO
It is disheartening that such a fine and original series should be cancelled. We miss diffident, charming JLB Matekoni, prickly Mma Makutsi, and our precious Mma Ramotswe. We miss our little window into Botswana. It was, well, uplifting to see a gentle world where wisdom, kindness and moral gumption were appreciated and rewarded. And with humor and without being preachy! Yay! What a lovely gift Alexander McCall Smith and Anthony Minghella made for us. What do we need to do to convince BBC or HBO to reinstate this unique and worthwhile show? A movie or two would be better than… Read more »
This show was brilliant. Each episode was a masterpiece. Jill Scott’s performance was seamless and poinant. Anika Noni Rose was charming and funny as 97%.
My husband and I will miss this wonderful series.
I’m very disappointed that HBO canceled this show after only one season. No. 1 Ladie’s Detective Agency was delightful and full of excellent storyline. I was eagerly anticipating another season to have it pulled from programming. HBO’s primetime programming is great, but there are a couple shows that just don’t do if for me. This show was funny, suspenseful, family-appropriate, and well-acted. I don’t get the logic at HBO, but I wish they would revive this show and not in some made for TV movie form!
Please, BBC, HBO, anyone out there listening: Bring this series back! The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is one of the very few series I have actually watched, enjoyed and looked forward to in a long time. Why won’t BBC and HBO listen to *reason* and bring the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency back? Why, oh *why* is it that the good shows get cancelled and the trashy ones keep running? How in the world could BBC and HBO have cancelled the show after only 7 episodes? BBC and HBO: Can you imagine what could happen if you stick with… Read more »
I would watch the movies but am more interested in seeing it continue as a show for many seasons. The shows with true intelligence are always the ones that get canned. It’s a shame.
O YYYY MOST THEY CANCEL THIS SHOW **** TRUE BLOOD AN ALL THOSE OTHER SHOW’S I BLAM THIS ON REACEZOM CAUSE THOSE WHITE SHOW’S ARE’NT GOING ANY WERE WHO THE **** WANT TO SEE A SHOW ABOUT PEOPLE BITING PEOPLE THATS SO BULL **** **** WHO Y’ALL CANCELED MY SHOW.. I WASNT THIS MAD ABOUT IT TELL THE OTHER NIGHT I SAW ONE OF THE OLD EPISODES AN IT PISTED ME OFF THAT THEY WOULDNT BE ANY NEW ONE’S SO IF U HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY SHOW BEING CANCELED **** U **** U AGINE AN **** YOUR MOMMA… Read more »
ROFL really? So mad that she can’t even talk or spell correctly… Now THAT’s upset!
NO, two movies won’t cut it. My husband and I are absolutely hooked on this series and are really upset that it was cancelled. What is wrong with the BBC and HBO. Why do they need Botswana to kick money to have it filmed there. They had a gem! So HBO has no advertising so they get their money from the cities they film in? We accidently found the series on Netflix. We like being fed the story over a period of time like we were in the first 7 episodes. Two movies will ruin it as it will be… Read more »
True that! It was great. What a shame…
Of course they cancelled it — they always cancel the good ones — who is making these decisions?! I’ll look forward to the movies but cancelling HBO until they put it back on — it was the only thing worth watching.
This was an amazing show – a true breath of fresh air. While sex, violence and foul language rule the air waves – this was true story telling. I will miss it.
I adore this show. I liked nothing better than to drink a cup of bush tea along with the characters. Movies will certainly be better than nothing but I really wish they had continued the series. What a waste to cut short such a wonderful uplifting family series. I agree there are far too many violent and oversexed programs on TV now. I also think it is a shame that the movies will not be filmed in Botswana. How much more could it cost to keep a little authenticism?
Who knew Jill Scott was such a good actress? I love all the characters. The actors/actresses did a wonderful job. Looking forward to a movie(s).
This show is fantastic-it should be renewed!!!!
I keep checking back to see if the Ladies’ #1 Detective Agency series will renew. Since it is apparently not renewing it I have canceled my HBO subscription.
What a shame that HBO is not continuing what is arguably the most delightful, “breath of fresh air” show on TV. It was a bright spot among the too often violent, depressing and profane fare that we typically get.