Joanna Lumley reveals ‘Ab Fab’ movie start date
By Will Stroude
Right, it’s officially time to start getting excited people. After months of teasing, Joanna Lumley has confirmed that the long-awaited Absolutely Fabulous movie is officially scheduled to start production this autumn.
Appearing on ITV’s This Morning today (July 29), the screen legend revealed that the Jennifer Saunders-penned film adaptation of the classic BBC sitcom will being filming on October 12.
“We are all there, the same old gang,” said Lumley as she confirmed the glorious news. “Lots of people you will have seen in it before, I think we are going down to the south of France to do some of the shooting there.
“It’ll all be shot on location. It is going to be ravishingly funny! Very gorgeous… and completely fabulous!”
The 69 year-old went on to joke that also may need a helping hand to maintain Patsy’s iconic beehive during filming.
“I usually use my own hair, and that’s usually for one show a week in front of an audience,” she explained. “But when you’re shooting for seven or eight weeks every day, I think I’ll give it a bit of a break.”
Hooray #JoannaLumley confirms Ab Fab IS coming back. The script is written and filming starts on October 12th
— This Morning (@thismorning) July 29, 2015
Saunders and Lumley last reprised their iconic roles as Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone for a trio of special episodes shown in 2011 and 2012. Saunders revealed back in January that she had completed the first draft of the film’s script, and has since announced that the movie will also star male supermodel David Gandy.
While Jennifer’s admitted she wants Elton John and Lulu to appear in Ab Fab’s big screen debut, sadly the cast will not include former supporting player Dora Bryan, who passed away aged 91 last year.
Teasing more details earlier this year, Saunders said: “[The film] involves all the main characters and virtually everyone that’s ever been in the series – all those characters – and we’re in London, and sometimes we might go to the south of France, I’m hoping.”
She added “I’m waiting for the budget! It could be anywhere – if it’s a big budget, it will be the Bahamas!”
She went on to joke that Lumley allayed her fears about potentially damaging the show’s legacy, saying: “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be awful if it was awful’, but we’re all so old, and Joanna said to me, ‘Do it before we die!’ We’re all on the brink.”
More stories:
Colin Farrell to serve as best man at brother’s wedding
Steve Grand defends skimpy, ‘stereotypically gay’ swimwear