Studiocanal Signs ALAN PARTRIDGE

James Marsh, Editor, Asia; Hong Kong, China (@Marshy00)

June 26 2012, 5:59 AM

Any news about more Alan Partridge is worthy of celebration, or a communal "Aha!" at the very least, but today's announcement from STUDIOCANAL that they have bought UK theatrical distribution rights for an as-yet-unfilmed Alan Partridge movie is just fantastic stuff. The creation of comedy geniuses Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci (along with Lee & Herring) has been almost faultlessly fantastic since first arriving on BBC Radio 4 in the early 1990s. Through a number of different TV series, Coogan has enriched the character above and beyond any other comic creation in recent memory, and frankly anything else the actor does - even the good stuff - pales in comparison to his Norfolk-born broadcaster.

The Alan Partridge Movie is set to begin filming from 7 January 2013, and its new distributors have already confirmed a 16 August 2013 release date. Partridge is quoted in the press release as being "gladdened and pleased" at the news, which he deems "the greatest Anglo-French co-operation since the Normandy landings", before going on at some length about his love and admiration for canals.

Irishman and long-time TV comedy veteran Declan Lowney is slated to direct the project, working from a script written by Coogan, Iannucci, Peter Baynham and Neil & Rob Gibbons - who have all been collaborating for a number of years already. So, the forecast is looking good that this full-length big screen outing for Britain's favourite East Anglian will live up to Partridge's already impressive body of work.

Press release:

STUDIOCANAL SIGNS ALAN PARTRIDGE

Partridge declares himself "gladdened and pleased...by the greatest Anglo-French co-operation since the Normandy landings..."

June 26 2012: STUDIOCANAL today announced their acquisition of UK theatric rights to THE ALAN PARTRIDGE MOVIE, set to shoot from January 7 next year, and confirmed an August 16 2013 opening date for the film in the UK.

Alan Partridge commented, "I'm simultaneously gladdened and pleased to see a British film being co-funded by the French dudes at STUDIOCANAL. This is without doubt the greatest Anglo-French co-operation since the Normandy landings. This time, the heroes aren't Allied servicemen - they're motion picture financiers, who are equally brave.

I'd also like to add that 'canal' - or, in English, 'canal' - is a transportation system close to my heart. In the late 18th century, this new method of logistics halved the price of coal in many English cities. If STUDIOCANAL's investment can achieve even a fraction of that, I will be delighted."