“Lovejoy” the hit BBC comedy-drama mystery series that ran from 1986 to 1994 and starred Ian McShane, is to return to screens.
See-Saw Films, the British banner known for “Slow Horses” and “Heartstopper,” has acquired rights to adapt John Grant’s original detective novels (written under the pen name Jonathan Gash).
Plans are now underway for a contemporary reimagining of the series, which saw McShane play the eponymous roguish and fourth wall-breaking antiques dealer, a likeable anti-hero with a knack for recognizing genuine antiques from fakes or forgeries.
Chris Jury, Dudley Sutton, Phyllis Logan and Malcolm Tierney also starred. The original show ran for 71 episodes over six series.
Executive producers for See-Saw include Lisa Gilchrist, Helen Gregory, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Simon Gillis. Joining them will be Grant and his agent Lisa Moylett.
The deal was negotiated by Simon Gillis and Laura Mazzola, head of Business and Legal Affairs (UK), on behalf of See-Saw and Sheila David of Catapult Rights Limited on behalf of Dr Grant.
Other TV productions for See-Saw include Sky/Starsz hit “Sweetpea,” and the upcoming Australian legal drama “The Great White.” On the film side, upcoming titles include Apple TV’s “Tenzing,” the upcoming Tenzing Norgay biopic starring Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe, while it is in development on a new film series based on beloved children’s novel “The Neverending Story” book. Last year, it was revealed that it was working on a biopic of Sinead O’Connor.
Variety‘s sister publication Deadline was the first to report on the “Lovejoy” news.
