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Life on Mars new sequel, Lazarus, scripted.

UK crime drama with John Simm and Philip Glenister inches closer to a new sequel, but yet to be formally commissioned.

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A new sequel to UK drama Life on Mars, known as Lazarus, has been scripted by creators Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah.

Matthew Graham recently tweeted, “So @AJPharoah and I have completed the pilot script for #Lazarus. It contains the words – Hanging, Boogie, Creme Fraiche.”

In early 2020 he teased, “We would never make another Mars unless we really had something to say and could push the envelope all over again. Finally, we have something,” he confirmed in a Twitter webchat at the start of the pandemic

“There are bad things and there are monsters. These things are real. But to get to you they have to get through the Guv [Gene Hunt]. And the Guv is putting his driving gloves on.”

Stars John Simm and Philip Glenister have both expressed an interest in reprising their respective roles of Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt.

Life on Mars screened from 2006 – 2007 before sequel Ashes to Ashes screened from 2008 to May 2010. It also spawned a US adaptation, but but Pharaoh once told TV Tonight they never got it right.

“Our Life on Mars is essentially a love story between two blokes really. They’re equal, a yin and yang –that gives it its intensity. As soon as they cast Harvey, who’s 70, they didn’t do that two-hander. It was much more of an ensemble piece, because they knew they had to do so many episodes. I think they instantly watered it down a bit,” he said.

There’s no word yet from the BBC about a new series.

Source: Radio Times

5 Responses

  1. In my opinion the Life on Mars series had run its course after the much anticipated conclusion to the story, which wouldn’t really be a spoiler to reveal but I wont, by resurrecting Life on Mars the writers could end up recycling the previous plot, which could be a drawback for any screenplay which used the audiences speculation of supernatural events as the main attraction to keep watching the show. The fate of the Life on Mars characters is already known to fans so a sequel will inevitably become a quirky police procedure drama just like the original, but considering the UK’s penchant for Police procedural shows Life o Mars will probably attract a reasonable audience, especially with the main cast involved.
    One observation though, the original series was not too concerned about diversity, maybe the BBC could find issue with this.

  2. Loved these series….big fan of John Simm’s work…I have just been watching him on Grace on 7+….Series 1…2 episodes….just watched 1st one so far….white knuckles for me…..😮

  3. I do hope this gets picked up. I enjoyed both series but it was all about Phillip Glenister for me so as long as he returns I’m in.

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