Writer Ben Elton says Blackadder reboot ‘never’ going to happen

Well, despite all the rumours that Blackadder might be making a comeback (here), it seems that no, Blackadder has had its moment and will not be making a return.

Co-writer Ben Elton (he co-wrote the series with Richard Curtis) is making a stand-up comeback and is currently doing a press tour to promote and, of course, the topic of Black Adder came up.

Now, it seems the rumour, going waaaaaay back, started with Baldrick writer (and something of a British national treasure) Tony Robinson who always says that a comeback is possible:  “Every time Tony does an interview he says, ‘Oh, I think there might be another,’ but don’t listen to Baldrick on this one,” says Elton, “you need to hear it from me or Richard Curtis as we write it.”

And, in a finishing blow, he adds: “There is never going to be another – I can tell you that now.”

The recent rumour came from reports that  Robinson along with stars Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie had been seen together recently, sparking talk of a new series, but Elton seems stuck solid in his mindset: “It’s just best to remember Blackadder as it was.”

In fact, it seems that, despite the show being hailed as a comedy classic, Blackadder was a tough series to make: “Blackadder wasn’t easy, it wasn’t a particularly happy experience for everyone,” Elton says, “It was very tense, lots of egos, lots of frustrations but through it all everyone remained friendly and deeply respectful. But it was edgy.

“Richard went in all the time and it was very hard for him but I was like, ‘f*** ’em, if they’re going to spend three hours discussing whether vole or gerbil is a funnier word, when Richard and I had written vole because we know it’s a funnier word, and they’ll come back with vole at the end – then I don’t want to sit through that debate’. I used to sometimes not go in.”

It’s sad to think that Blackadder won’t be making a comeback but it’s still great to know we have those four series and specials forever. Big Hollywood studios could likely learn a thing or two from that.

Were you excited for the return of Blackadder or do you think Elton is right to leave it in the halls of comedy classic? I want to know…

Source: The Sun