Dirk Gently is back on BBC... America !

From the DG comics published by IDW

We knew that Arvind Ethan David, a long time fan of Douglas Adams, and co-creator of "Dirk", the play adaption of the first Dirk Gently back in 1992, was working on a brand new adaptation of Dirk Gently on TV, this time with Max Landis as the main writer (the 2010 TV series on BBC4 was penned by Howard "Misfits" Overman).

The Uk version, broadcast on BBC4 in 2010 and 2012, with Stephen Mangan playing Dirk Gently, just lasted four episodes (one pilote and the three episodes of season 1).

Now Variety just confirmed that BBC America ordered a brand new version. First news, the series will feature one big mystery per season and he will have a brand new sidekick named Todd ("The series will follow the surreal adventures of the highly unconventional detective and his reluctant assistant Todd as they navigate one big metaphysical mystery per season.").

As in the US comics launched in 2015 by IDW (which also co-produce the TV series), Dirk will of course head to the US to live his new adventures.

BBC America president Sarah Barnett is quite enthusiastic about the project and Max Landis' take on Dirk Gently : ” ‘Dirk Gently’ is a very original series, fresh and unlike anything else. The novels have legions of fans, and with Max Landis’ brilliant and audacious take on this material we are excited to bring Dirk to life for our BBCA super-fans".

Apparently we can expect ten episodes for the first series. No news right now about the casting, the filming schedule and so on. But we can expect news quickly.

The new series is co-produced by AMC Studios, Ideate Media and comic book publisher IDW Entertainment with Circle of Confusion producing.

Here is the article published by Variety : http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/bbc-america-douglas-adams-dirk-gentlys-holistic-detective-agency-1201674933/

The post by BBC America http://www.bbcamerica.com/blog/2016/01/douglas-adams-dirk-gentlys-holistic-detective-agency-is-coming-to-bbc-america

Other posts :
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dirk-gentlys-holistic-detective-agency-853173 

Dirk Gently has been axed by BBC4

Bad news for TV viewers who wanted to watch something slightly more original than the typical detective show. BBC4 has finally decided to axe Dirk Gently, the TV series freely adapted from the Douglas Adams books.

We learnt the news from the series star Stephen Mangan who wrote on his Twitter account that "It gives me no pleasure whatsoever to report that the BBC have decided not to make any more Dirk Gently".

As a Radio Times article point out "The pilot episode was watched by almost 1 million viewers when it first aired on BBC4 in December 2010. But a series of three hour-long episodes shown in March this year saw an initial average audience of 844,000 fall to less than 600,000 by the final instalment. "

If you want to bring Dirk Gently back on screen (we can always dream), you can sign the petition on avaaz.org

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Bring_back_Dirk_Gently/?clJbgdb

You can also show you disapproval (or your approval) of BB4 decision by voting on Radio Times website :

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-05-28/dirk-gently-axed,-says-stephen-mangan

Dirk Genlty : back on TV screen the 5th March (updated)

Dirk Genlty is back for three brand new episodes. Like the pilote which was broadcast in 2011, the series will feature brand new adventures but with characters and probably some ideas taken from Douglas Adams' books.

"Dirk Gently" is back in a brand new series, transmission confirmed for 9-10pm, Monday 5 March on BBC Four.


Dirk Gently Ep 1/3
Monday 5 March
9.00-10.00pm
BBC FOUR

Transmission confirmed for 9-10pm, Monday 5 March on BBC Four
Dirk Gently is back in a brand new series.
In this, the first of three episodes, Douglas Adams' private detective discovers the connection between two unrelated cases: a client who believes the Pentagon are trying to kill him and another whose horoscopes appear to be coming true. When the mysteries collide, Dirk is the only man for the job.
Stephen Mangan plays Dirk, Darren Boyd plays Macduff, Jason Watkins plays DI Gilks, Lisa Jackson plays Janice, Paul Ritter plays Oliver, Cosima Shaw plays Emma, Ken Collard plays Matthew, Colin McFarlane plays Terrence and Miranda Raison plays Kate.


Dirk Gently Ep 2/3
Monday 12 March
9.00-10.00pm
BBC FOUR

Dirk and Macduff return to Cambridge, to the university that expelled Dirk for cheating 20 years ago.
They have been employed by Dirk’s former professor as security consultants to guard a valuable robot. However, within hours of their arrival the robot is stolen and the professor found dead, with Dirk and Macduff implicated as the chief suspects.
The professor was the only person who ever believed in Dirk, who vows to find out who is behind the murder. The chief suspects are Emelda Ransome, the brilliant but embittered computer scientist who has spent the whole of her career developing a fully functioning Artificial Intelligence, and David Cho, the Chinese programmer recently arrived from Beijing to help Emelda complete her experiment.
Macduff’s girlfriend Susan is also in Cambridge at an interview for a new job which, if she got it, would mean the end of Dirk and Macduff’s detective partnership.
Stephen Mangan plays Dirk, Darren Boyd plays Mcduff, Helen Baxendale plays Susan, Lisa Jackson plays Janice, Bill Paterson plays Professor Jericho, Sylvestra Le Touzel plays Emelia, Lydia Wilson plays Jane, Andrew Leung plays Noel, Will Sharpe plays David and Bethan Hanks plays Elaine.


Dirk Gently Ep 3/3
Monday 19 March
9.00-10.00pm
BBC FOUR

The police want to talk to Dirk urgently. Several of his clients have been murdered and Dirk is the only link.
Convinced that he’s being framed, Dirk resolves to flee the country. He is interrupted by the arrival of a beautiful woman who has been terrorised by a stalker.
To Macduff’s surprise Dirk takes the case, but his surprise turns to disbelief when Dirk reveals that it’s him who’s been doing the stalking. When the police finally catch up with Dirk at his horribly messy flat (his dispute with his cleaner has escalated into full scale war) they reveal he isn’t under suspicion - they just want to protect him from this professional killer.
With Dirk’s pride dented (as if he couldn’t commit a few simple murders!) he and Macduff investigate the case and discover that the only murderer Dirk ever framed has recently been released from prison…
Stephen Mangan plays Dirk, Darren Boyd plays Macduff, Jason Watkins plays DI Gilks, Lisa Jackson plays Janice, Lisa Dillon plays Melinda and Tony Pitts plays Robbie Glover.



Stephen Mangan will also be appearing later that week at the Hammersmith Apollo (on 11 March) at Douglas Adams's Virtual 60th Party.