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.
Bring it back!!!! its a funny show, something refreshing.
I bought my family dvd and as we opened our gifts my older daughter had bought the
same dvd for me, she loves the guy who plays the gay character.
So, bring it back!!!
I am so sad. I was waiting and waiting and waiting for it to return. I so very much enjoyed the values portrayed that are not present in American TV. A large woman as the protagonist; a smart, intelligent quirky woman as her foil, an unhandsome man as her lover, a landscape beautiful and powerful, a familiar, peaceable lifestyle in a continent not known for its peaceableness. On an evening at the end of summer, two of my closest friends sat on my couch eating, popcorn and watching the episodes, three in a row., aged, 50, 56 and myself, 56,… Read more »
I would love to see the show come back as a series. The female character was such a believable character.Ihave to agree with othr viewers.
What is the matter with the producers? A fabulous series canceled? WHY?WHY?WHY?
I would like to see more of this series. The books are great and they did a fine job of casting these characters. I would subscribe to HBO again if this show is renewed.
I LOVE the #1 agency. From the first time to the end. Please do not end it. Movies would be great but I would like the series also.
I think the series brought the books to life, so I wish they could be continued. Movies will be better than having nothing.
Loved the books and I truly enjoyed tune in to HBO for the series.
I am so disappointed that the show will not come back to HBO for a new season.
With such a cliff hanger we were left with I highly anticipated the new season.
My heart is broken it can be slightly repaired if the movies are made.
I welcome HBO movies just bring the “No1 Ladies Detective Agency” back to the screen.
It was so interesting to see the main character develop and see a culture different than my own. I only saw 1 (probably the 1st) of the episodes and didn’t realize it was a series, or I would have looked for it. I wish there were more shows like “Mystery” from PBS. So a series of movies would be fine. I’d like to see more of the great historical mysteries developed for TV, such as Steven Saylor’s series that takes place in ancient Rome.
Yes, yes, yes – I do hope it returns as movies!
i like jill scott and anika noni rose who has been great on the good wife but she deserved better than this garbage
The #1 Ladies Detective Agency is indeed #1. It is excellent with an excellent cast. A movie would be wonderful!
Why you they cancel one of the few interesting, fun shows? I stopped taking HBO because of this kind of decision. Movies will be fun but a series is better.
I thinl that this show was one of the best shows that HBO has ever aired. It was not grotesguely overwrought with sex and sexual inuendo. I think that Jill Scott was wonderful in her role as Mme. Ramotswe. The producers and directors did a wonderful job casting this show. The cast was exceptional! I would love to see this show renewed. I still have every episode saved on my dvr. Please consider bringing the show and the original crew back. We need more intelligent comedy!
I adored the series of books and the HBO TV series was fabulous because it was so true to the books. It is a crime that such a high quality production was not renewed. Jill Scott (and the entire cast actually) was outstanding and it was wonderful to see the actual country referred to in the books. I suppose if movies are the only way to see this great series continue, then so be it. I guess fans will take it any way we can get it!