Rowan Atkinson has embodied tons of outstanding roles over the years as an actor, comedian, and writer. But of all the franchises that he has been a part of, including Mr Bean and Johnny English, there’s only one whose revival he feels is worth his time: Blackadder. And yes, that was the very franchise that won him a BAFTA for best light entertainment performance for Blackadder Goes Forth in 1989.
Talking to U.K. outlet Radio Times in 2021, Atkinson shared that while he didn’t actually enjoy the process of making anything, his respective series from the 1980s was an exception – though reviving it wouldn’t be an easy task (via Variety):
I don’t actually like the process of making anything – with the possible exception of ‘Blackadder,’ because the responsibility for making that series funny was on many shoulders, not just mine. But ‘Blackadder’ represented the creative energy we all had in the ’80s. To try to replicate that 30 years on wouldn’t be easy.
Widely beloved by many, it was a series of four period British sitcoms and several one-off installments, which originally aired on BBC1 from 1983 to 1989. All of these starred Atkinson as the antihero Edmund Blackadder, with Tony Robinson right by his side as his titular character’s servant Baldrick.
Blackadder Does Deserve to be Revived, Here’s Why
Arguably one of the best projects to make its way to the screens back in the 80s, there are one too many reasons why Blackadder deserves to be revived. One primary reason is due to its timeless, sharp wit and historical satire, a format that allows it to reinvent itself for any era while maintaining its core comedic dynamic.
The unique structure of placing a cynical Edmund and his dimwitted sidekick Baldrick in a different historical period in each season allowed every season to stand somewhat independently and follow a new idea. This means that, even after its revival, the series could never truly run out of ideas, and nor would the revival necessarily destroy the original’s legacy.
Plus, that show excelled at an ironic and stylish wit that critiqued society, class structures, and bureaucracy. Even in today’s day and age, that type of sharp, intelligent humor remains as relevant as it was back in the 80s, and could also be applied to new periods or even the modern day. Not to mention, seeing those familiar faces once again would be truly worth the wait.
We should mention that Richard Curtis has already teased that some exciting plans for the sitcom could be in the pipeline while talking to Metro last year.
With Curtis igniting fresh hope among fans regarding the sitcom series’ return, it sounds like the day when fans finally see Blackadder return to the screens once again might not be too far. It just remains to be seen when exactly that time will come.
TV SeriesSeasonsRelease YearsIMDb Score / 10RT Tomatometer RatingRT Popcornmeter RatingStreamingBlackadder41983 – 1989885%89%BritBox
Rowan Atkinson is Currently Making Headlines For Man Vs Baby
While Atkinson made it clear that Blackadder is the only franchise he’d even so much as give a thought about reviving, he is currently making headlines for Man Vs Baby. Recently released, the four-episode British comedy television miniseries is a follow-up to his 2022 TV miniseries, Man vs. Bee, and was created and written by Atkinson in collaboration with William Davies.
In this one, as well, Atkinson is seen reprising his role as Trevor Bingley. This one is set after the chaos of the 2022 series, in which Trevor has taken a quieter job as a school caretaker. But when a lucrative Christmas penthouse gig lures him back, and no one collects the Baby Jesus from the school nativity, he finds himself with an unexpected companion over the holidays.
TV SeriesRelease YearsIMDb Score / 10RT Tomatometer RatingRT Popcornmeter RatingStreamingMan Vs Baby20256.682%50%Netflix
Did You Know: Rowan Atkinson Dislikes Mr Bean as a Person!
Although Blackadder is one franchise that launched Atkinson to tremendous success, no other role of his is as famous as his portrayal of Mr. Bean. But as much as fans might love him as the character, he isn’t particularly as enchanted by the iconic comic creation as his fans worldwide.
At a London screening of his Netflix show Man Vs Baby, he described the character as a “selfish, self-serving, anarchic child,” despite the character resonating with audiences around the world. He candidly said (via Deadline),
I dislike Mr Bean as a person; I certainly would never like to have dinner with him.
At the same time, he said he liked Mr Bean as a character, since he was “a bit like I was at age 10.” In fact, he even went as far as comparing Mr Bean to his other characters, including Trevor Bingley from Man Vs Baby, Johnny English, and even Edmund from the Blackadder franchise. The actor, 70, said at the screening,
Trevor Bingley, in his basic form, is arguably one of the nicest people I’ve ever played. Because I think most people I’ve played are sort of deeply unpleasant, really, you know, Mr Bean is a selfish, self-serving, anarchic child.
Well, judging from his words, it sounds like this follow-up to Man Vs Bee is as interesting as the original miniseries and would be worth a watch. That said, will you be streaming it anytime soon? What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section below!
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