It’s been several months since we first reported on the fact that Johnny English would be getting a sequel, and at that time little was known about the picture, other than the fact that it would once again be a MI7 based spy-spoof comedy with Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder) playing the lead role of Johnny English.
English is actually just the cinematic version of the Richard Latham, A.K.A. the Barclaycard Agent; a character that Rowan played twenty years ago in series of James Bond spoof TV adverts; and is even joined on-screen by his original partner Bough (Ben Miller, The Parole Officer), and while no-one ever thought that the Barclaycard Agent would get his own movie, a sequel seemed even less likely; as the first Johnny English received somewhat mixed reviews; although any film that grosses $160 million worldwide, and has the public begging for more (according to some reports), is bound to make the studio consider it a possibility.
Now more than a possibility, pre-production for Johnny English 2 is fully underway, and while we have no officially confirmed script details (other than the fact it was written by the writer of Mr. Bean’s Holiday; Hamish McColl), the latest cast member has been announced, and is none other than The X-Files Gillian Anderson; who will be appearing as an MI7 secret agent named Pamela Head, opposite Rowan’s Johnny, and under the direction of Oliver Parker (who directed the two most recent St Trinian’s movies).
While there’s no official release date been given for the film as of yet, some sources do have it being listed as ready for release sometime next year (an entirely real possibility as filming is due to start this coming September), and we can expect more details (and an official date) to start trickling out in the next few months, as more cast members sign on, and filming begins.
