Writer Graham Linehan has confirmed that NBC is developing a remake of cult Channel 4 comedy, ‘The IT Crowd’.
This marks the stations third attempt to commission the rehash following two previously failed attempts, albeit without the help or creator Linehan.
However, NBC is hopeful with Linehan set to write and executive produce the adaptation along with Patrick Daly (‘August: Osage County’) and Jon Rolph (‘The IT Crowd’) who is head of Fremantle Media who produced the original Channel 4 series.
The original series followed two socially awkward IT workers, Moss and Roy - played by Chris O’Dowd and Richard Ayoade, who reside in the sub basement of their ambiguous company Reyholm Industries and are managed by their technologically impaired boss, Jen, played by Katherine Parkinson. The show is centred around the antics of the two, both at work and out socially, which always tends to end badly.
NBC attempted an adaptation in 2007 that featured Jessica St. Clair and Joel McHale, which was scrapped after receiving huge backlash online. While a more recent attempt in 2014 with ‘Scrubs’ creator Bill Lawrence and Warner Bros Television also failed to materialise.
Creator Graham Linehan warned against people expecting a complete remake saying - “Oh, yeah. Working on it. Don’t expect the same kind of show and everyone will be happy.”
Linehan is one of Ireland and the UK’s most respected comedy writers having previous written cult classics ‘Father Ted’ and ‘Black Books’, and is currently working with Sharon Horgan on new show ‘Motherland’.
Linehan is repped by CAA and Independent Talent.