Popular British television comedy series Absolutely Fabulous is heading to the big screen. The show’s creator and co-star Jennifer Saunders is planning on scripting a film version of the show that has gained fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Saunders, however, will first have to finish up her work on the Spice Girls London stage musical Viva Forever set to open next year before she can turn her attention to the proposed film.
Absolutely Fabulous starred Saunders and Joanna Lumley as to the hard partying Edina and Patsy, a pair of women who never really let go of their 1970s hard paring lifestyle. The show ran for three series between 1992 and 1995 and then was revived for two more series and three specials between 2001 and 2003.
Reportedly, the film will open with Patsy and Edina waking up hung over on a deserted millionaire’s yacht adrift in the middle of the ocean.
It should be noted that the planned film is a long way from getting a greenlight, but Deadline quotes BBC Films head Christine Langan as being enthusiastic about the project. “I think she’s a genius. I can’t imagine anything more exciting than working with her.”
Ab Fab, as it is usually shortened to by fans, first aired in the US on Comedy Central and was a huge hit for the cable outlet with surprisingly strong DVD sales following. More recently the show has aired on both Logo and BBC America, who just finished co-producing three new specials which should start airing around Christmas.
While I am a fan of the show, I have to wonder of if the time for an Ab Fab movie has passed. While it is funny to see two women in their mid-40s trying to act like they’re still two decades younger, adding another ten years to their actual age might make that seem more tragic than comic. Perhaps we’ll have a better idea of how an Absolutely Fabulous movie could fare after we see the upcoming specials this winter.
