Fawlty Towers is making a comeback more than four decades after the final episode aired, with John Cleese and his daughter, Camilla Cleese, at the helm.
In 1975, he made his film debut as Basil Fawlty, who fights to keep his hotel and his marriage to Sybil Fawlty (Prunella Scales) operating well.
The programme was created by John and his ex-wife Connie Booth, with whom he was married from 1965 until 1978, a year before the show ended after two seasons on BBC2.
Castle Rock Entertainment has announced that Fawlty Towers would return for a relaunch after securing a contract with the Monty Python actor.
The return will show Basil grappling with the revelation that he had a daughter he had no idea existed, all while attempting to keep up with the current, ever-changing world.
When asked about the announcement, the 83-year-old said he enjoyed how producer Matthew George’really “gets” the creative process,’ recalling their first encounter.
Camilla is John’s second child, the daughter of his second marriage to Barbara Trentham, whom he married from 1981 to 1990.
‘When [Matt and I] first met, he offered an excellent first idea, and then Matt, my daughter Camilla, and I had one of the best creative sessions I can remember,’ John said.
‘By dessert we had an overall concept so good that, a few days later, it won the approval of [executive producers] Rob and Michele Reiner.
‘Camilla and I look forward enormously to expanding it into a series.’
Rob, the beloved rom-com director When Harry Met Sally… referred to John as a “comedy icon,” adding, ‘Just the idea of working with him makes me laugh.’
Derrick and George Rossi are also producers on the movie, with the latter describing meeting John and Camilla as one of his “biggest joys” in life.
‘I’ve watched the first two seasons so many times I have lost count. I dreamed of one day being involved in a continuation of the story. Now it’s come true,’ he remarked.