British Comedian Says ‘In The Loop’ Director Armando Ianucci & ‘Borat’ Co-Writer Peter Baynham Are Helping Him Pen The Script
Knowing me knowing you, aha.
While Steve Coogan riffs a bit on his audience’s obsession with his Alan Partridge character (and on the fact that he may never be able to escape or surpass it) in Michael Winterbottom‘s latest meta-comedy, “The Trip,” which screens during the Tribeca Film Festival this week, that won’t stop him from working on a new film for the iconic character. For those unfamiliar with the act, Partridge started off as a radio show character in “On The Hour” (along with “In The Loop” director Armando Iannucci) before graduating to become a clueless TV show host in “Knowing Me, Knowing You With Alan Partridge,” a very funny (yet uncomfortably depressing) BBC series. Years later, Coogan would return with “I’m Alan Partridge,” with the character back working in radio but still without the respect or audience he believes he has. Maybe it’s not as brilliant as “Knowing Me,” but it’s still very funny and a much easier watch — though his first series is commendable for actually being an uncomfortably bad talk show, that doesn’t make it something that you’re eager to replay too often.
But back to the movie based around the character that’s been discussed for some time now with not a lot materializing. We know what you’re thinking — another “Arrested Development Movie“-type situation — but in a recent chat with The Playlist, Coogan, amidst some movie-worthy banter, said that they will shoot the feature-length Alan Partridge movie next year. “We left it behind for a while, but we came back to it because we got a few ideas. We did these websites –” Coogan said, before being swiftly interrupted. Co-star Rob Brydon quickly interjected, as is typical of the duo’s real-life and meta-movie-life argumentative interaction, “They’re not websites. You did these ‘webisodes,’ not websites. It sounds like your granddaughter just introduced you to the internet,” he scoffed. With a quick eye roll, Coogan continued. “All right all right. We’re writing it right now, going to shoot it next year. Don’t know who will direct it, but Pete Baynham(“Borat“) and Armando Ianucci are writing it with me. We’ve already started it.” Sounds like a done deal. Plot details are nearly non-existent, aside from the tidbit that it will find the TV/talk show host in his hometown of Norwich.
In other casting news, Coogan revealed that his rumored attachment to Bryan Singer’s “Jack the Giant Killer” is no more. “I’m not doing that. I didn’t get the part, they gave it to Stanley Tucci. But he’s very good.” Tucci was announced as the villain, “an advisor to the king with designs on usurping power.” We’re down with Tucci and all, but it would’ve been a treat to see the Brit playing a villain, and we only have to point to this video of him doing a Bond villain (taken from the hilarious “The Trip” film) for our argument. Some Alan Partridge clips below and more from this interview, plus our review of “The Trip” soon.
