'Bored To Death' Movie Is Officially In Development At HBO

Television

by Kevin Jagernauth
January 22, 2013 4:58 PM
6 Comments

While everyone is deservedly excited for the return of "Arrested Development," this writer may be equally if not more stoked that the long rumored plans for HBO's movie revivial of the canceled-too-soon "Bored To Death" is very real, and very much in development. After bits and bobs through 2012 that this was happening, formal word has now arrived.

THR has confirmed the chatter that has been occuring over the past six months or so, and have received an official, if vague, logline: "Jonathan, Ray, and George reunite to fight crime, commit crime, lose their minds, and fail-at-love in a Bored to Death feature-length slapstick adventure."

If somehow you missed the three, sharp seasons on HBO, the show starred Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames (who also just happens to be the creator of the show), a novelist and writer who turns to private detective work, to try and get story ideas. Of course, this concept kept the show pretty loose from week to week, but the relationships were also nicely drawn, with Jonathan finding a bit of a father figure in Ted Danson's pot loving, magazine editor and man about town George Christopher, and Zach Galifianakis' neurotic and sensitive comic artist Ray, becoming good friends with them both. And yes, all three should be coming back, though deals aren't final just yet.

Jonathan Ames has been busy writing and while further plot details are under wraps, there have been teases. Danson has said, “I think Jason becomes a policeman, which means, for him, a traffic cop. He’ll have a traffic-cop go-kart kind of thing. And I think Ray and I move in together, both of us without relationships. And then: hijinks. All hell breaks loose. That’s about as much as I know.” Fans know that George and Ray have already spent a brief (and very funny) spell living together, so that would be interesting.

Meanwhile, Schwartzman revealed that ideas that were never realized may make their way into the show as well. "Before the show was canceled, Jonathan was showing me all the fourth season, he had it all figured out, it was really incredible. I think some of that will find its way into the movie, and I’m very excited about it,” he told us.

Either way, we're pretty excited and hopefully cameras will roll on this soon. And given the extensive guest appearances and recurrring roles the show has had -- John Hodgman, Kristen Wiig, Kevin Bacon, Zoe Kazan, Patton Oswalt, Isla Fisher, Dick Cavett, Mary Steenburgen, Stacy Keach and more appeared -- we wouldn't be surprised if the movie provides room for some more surprise spots.

Anyway, track down all three seasons now and see what you've been missing.

Television

More: Television, TV News, Bored To Death

6 Comments

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Tucker | January 23, 2013 10:53 PMReply

I completely agree with Thomas, and I have no doubt that Danson, Galifianakis, and Schwartzman will all be on board to do a Bored to Death movie. I still love watching all of my favorite episodes that I used to have saved on my old DVR. When I decided to get my new DISH Hopper, I transferred all of my recordings onto an external hard drive because I knew that they'd be compatible with my Hopper. I've watched a few episodes with one of my friends I work with at DISH and he was hooked, so I'm sure he's going to be just as thrilled that HBO is going to give us a movie!
Thomas | January 22, 2013 7:33 PMReply

Bored to Dead is an absolutely brilliant series, indeed cancelled way too soon. Season 1 had its ups and downs, but the next two seasons were just pure perfection, very well written, with a great atmosphere and a flawless cast. It can definitely transition well from the small to the big screen. I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks, HBO!
Svella Cocinpuo | January 22, 2013 11:55 PM

Thomas. You are dumb. You are on message boards commenting about shit that no one cares about. Good lord get a life.
Harvey | January 22, 2013 5:54 PMReply

"Bored" was a terrible show. Please don't ever mention it in the same breath as "AD" again. At least not in public.

I like the three leads, but each episode was very lazily written and constantly required them to make unrealistically foolish choices. Very contrived. Lots of mugging. And it's funny how the people who slagged "Girls" for being too white, too entitled, too hipster-y ... they never batted an eye over this.
bohmer | January 22, 2013 8:44 PM

I'm right with you on this. I watched it just for the cast and out of boringness...
tweak | January 22, 2013 5:08 PMReply

Time to light up.