Mrs Peel… we’re needed again. A new version of the classic spy-fi show The Avengers is in development.
According to a report in Deadline, Studiocanal – the rights holders to the beloved 1960s series – are planning to revive the show.
Originally launching in 1961 as a vehicle for Ian Hendry’s Dr David Keel, the show soon coalesced around the man who drew the good doctor into adventure – John Steed (Patrick MacNee).
The Avengers ran for six series with Steed aided by a roster of glamourous partners. Across the decade. the show shifted from black and white to colour, and from espionage to the fantastical. It also served as a breeding ground for James Bond, with both Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg graduating from the show to join 007 on the big screen.
The idea returned in the 1970s as The New Avengers . A Canadian co-production, which saw Macnee teamed with Gareth Hunt and Joanna Lumley, it ran for two seasons.
There was also an ill-fated movie adaptation in 1998, with Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman in the lead roles, and Sean Connery as the villain. Despite that star power, it failed to hit the heights of the television show, lost money at the box office and was critically panned.
Reboot
The Deadline piece suggests that a pilot script is already in place, from writers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, the team behind the hit BBC & HBO series Industry. Additionally, it says that Ben Taylor (Sex Education) is attached as both director and executive producer. The project comes from Wall to Wall (Waterloo Road) who are co-producing with StudioCanal.
There’s no suggestion yet as to which broadcaster or streamer the project may be destined for. Or indeed if it will be a period set piece or a modern take.
Interestingly, it’s not the first time a reboot has been attempted. In 2018, we reported on a version with Shane Black (The Predator) attached.
Audio Adventures
While a number of early episodes of The Avengers are lost, there are audio recreations courtesy of Big Finish. The same team has also gone on to adapt comic strip adventures, and even the 90’s novel Too Many Targets.
So, grab your bowler hat and, naturally, we’ll keep you posted on The Avengers.