The Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas has broken his silence on recent news that the hit comedy could be returning, Daily Mail reports.
The hit E4 comedy is poised for a comeback after the show’s creators confirmed on Monday they’d signed a new deal with production company Banijay.
Joe Thomas, 41, starred in the show alongside Simon Bird, James Buckley and Blake Harrison over three series between 2008 and 2010, along with two hit films.
The actor addressed rumours around an Inbetweeners comeback in a new interview, but also issued a stark warning for die-hard fans calling for its return.
It is thought the project could involve a new TV run, a film, or even a stage adaptation, with talks already underway about how to reboot the cult favourite.
As well as its four lead stars, The Inbetweeners also helped launch the careers of stars including Emily Atack, who is now starring in the Disney+ show Rivals.
Speaking to The Sun on behalf of Quizlet, Joe Thomas said: ‘I feel enormously close to all those people and, obviously, I love spending time with them.
‘If there was an opportunity to spend more time with them in any capacity, I’d love that… that’s pretty much all I can say.’
Joe Thomas did note that with the show’s four stars now out of school and grown adults, there’s fears a new series may not be as funny.
He said: ‘The Inbetweeners is full of characters who are delusional to a large extent.
‘When you get older, your delusions fall away, you look at life as it is. It means you get into less stupid situations I suppose, also the challenges get bigger; you can make larger mistakes when you get older.’
Joe Thomas said that he and the show’s four main stars are still in close contact nearly two decades after the comedy started.
Creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley confirmed that plans are underway to bring back the iconic characters Will, Simon, Jay and Neil for a fresh chapter, after a signing the deal with production giant Banijay UK.
‘It’s incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends),’ they said in a statement.
Banijay’s chief executive, Patrick Holland, told The Sun he was ‘delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of The Inbetweeners with them’.
He added: ‘They have an infectious creative vision for the brand which will resonate with audiences old and new.’
The company said the deal ‘unlocks the rights and potential to bring The Inbetweeners back for new audiences across a range of platforms including film, tv and stage’.
Joe Thomas (who played awkward teen Simon), revealed last year that the cast – including Simon Bird (who played geeky Will McKenzie), James Buckley (who played loud mouth Jay) and Blake Harrison (who played dopey Neil Sutherland)- were eager to return.
He said the group had stayed close friends and would ‘jump at the chance’ to work together again.
Speaking to a podcast he said: ‘We’re all still around. We’re all still in each other’s lives. We all still like each other.
‘And if it was something that came up, I think we would want to do it.’
Also tipped to return is Emily Atack, who played fan-favourite Charlotte Hinchcliffe.
During the summer, speculation of a reunion began swirling after Joe and James Buckley teased fans with a mysterious social media post.
The duo were seen posing together for what looked like a professional photoshoot, sparking instant rumours.
James added fuel to the fire by sharing the snap on Instagram with the cryptic caption: ‘Working on something…’
The Inbetweeners told the story of socially awkward teen Will MacKenzie and his mates Simon Cooper, Neil Sutherland and Jay Cartwright as they stumbled through life at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive.
The comedy captured the ups and downs of adolescence – from cringeworthy friendships and failed flirting attempts to the trials of school life and laddish behaviour.
Created as a more grounded alternative to teen dramas like Skins, the series offered a brutally honest and hilarious look at growing up.
Across three series, it became a huge hit for E4, smashing viewing records and collecting a string of awards.
Its success led to two box office smashes, The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014), with the first breaking UK comedy records for its opening weekend and the sequel also topping the charts.