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.
Inteligent delightful and true to the story line in the books, the characters are wonderful and loveable. Such a fine cast. We miss them! Continuing the TV series, because we never want it to end, is our vote. How can we get this on again?
The books and the Series are fantastic. The whole family loves it. I would rather the TV series continued, but movies would be good too.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this show and it’s gentle rhythmic pace. It transports me to the Botswana I learned to love through Alexander McCall Smith’s 11-book series by the same name. Please do whatever you can to ensure it returns either to TV (my preference) or to the movies. I will buy either the season or the DVD and watch again and again.
I love this show! I just watched it on DVD and it was awesome! I read the books awhile back and had no idea HBO did a series! Bring it back or at least make the movies!!! I’ll totally watch =)
Please, please bring it back!!! I’m in love with the characters, and it is so beautifully written!
There’s just nothing good on television…so bring it back!
We LOVED this series and want MORE!! So beautifully done – so touching and perfectly cast. We are already addicted to it. Going out and getting the books – am dying to read them!! One of the best series we have ever seen!!!
I agree with everyone. This show should not have been cancelled. It was a breath of fresh air and so like HBO, so what happened? Please rethink and continue the series.
Great show. Makes you feel good all over. Real quality TV time. Bring it back please!
I am deeply sadden to find out the series was canceled!!!! I stumbled on it while out of town and was totally hooked. It was refreshing to watch a she about powerful smart woman. It is very unfortunate that HBO did not advertise or support this show like all its other shows. It was refreshing to see something other than sex, drugs, vampires, and all ugly things. We see too much of this on all other stations and frankly it’s getting a little old. I truly hope that there will be movies and many of them!
I absolutely agree with all the above, and am flabbergasted that #1 Ladies is not back for a long long run. Great show!
I just finished the first season and feel very disappointed about the cancellation. I would also love to have two more movies to see. Really a special show.
Yes, yes yes to No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency – it must be very good for Botswana and they are being shortsighted to not subsidize production. A great, great show with an outstanding cast.
I LOVE this series. Got the DVD set for Christmas and just finished a marathon of the episodes. SO happy to read this news, I hope its accurate…
This is my favorite show. LOVE IT i want season 2
Please Please Please bring back this intelligent refreshing and delightful program! I also have read these wonderful books. The series truly was faithful to the stories and lovable Africa. My son and his wife have gone to Africa twice and this series reflects the courtesy, pleasantness and sweetness of the African people. We too have bought the series and enjoyed it very much and watched it on HBO. I did not subscribe to HBO but my cable company gifted it to us and now am so dissappointed in their cancelling such quality programming. Please Please Please bring back this quality… Read more »