Sweetie, darling, the ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ movie is happening: cheers?

abfab

I’ve mentioned before my love of all things Absolutely Fabulous. It’s because I’m a ‘90s girl, I know. You have to understand something: before Sex & the City, before the rise of the British drama, before the Real Housewives and before everyone got so politically correct, Absolutely Fabulous was IT. It was the best. It was always about two crazy women behaving badly and having a fabulous time together. Patsy Stone is my spirit animal. Edina Monsoon is everything. I even love Saffy!!! And Bubble too, although a little Bubble goes a long way. Anyway, a few years ago Jennifer Saunders announced that she would be writing an AbFab movie, sweetie darling LET ME IN. And now it’s really happening!!!

Fox Searchlight Pictures and BBC Films have released the first image from comedy “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie,” which has started to shoot in the U.K. and the South of France for seven weeks. The film will be released next year.

The film reunites Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley as Edina and Patsy, along with the rest of the original cast, which includes Julia Sawalha as Saffy, Jane Horrocks as Bubble and June Whitfield as Mother.

In the movie, which is adapted from the BBC TV series, Edina and Patsy are still living the high life: shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hotspots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber-fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm, and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent, and live a life of luxury forever.

[From Variety]

The Riviera? OMG. I hope they get some good celebrity cameos, like… Patsy doing lines with Leo (Joanna Lumley does know Leo – they worked together on The Wolf of Wall Street!!). Or maybe Edina willingly taking some GHB and passing out on a mogul’s yacht. Something like that. It will be epic. I hope Saffy gets sold off to a sheik.

They’re also saying the whole gang will be coming back, including Julia Sawalha as Saffy, Jane Horrocks as Bubble and June Whitfield as Edina’s mum. Saunders also released a statement: “I am thrilled and excited to finally start filming. We are all taking our medication and hoping for the best.” Medication, darling? Just pop a Xanex, smoke a joint, drink 10 bottles of wine and then pee it out in the morning.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet, the BBC.

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96 Responses to “Sweetie, darling, the ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ movie is happening: cheers?”

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  1. Nancy says:

    The drunk Golden Girls? A day late and a dollar short.

    • ladyg says:

      Oh, dear grasshopper…bite your tongue and then head to youTube. You shall quickly discover the error of your quip.

      • chelsea says:

        She’s right. They should have wrapped it up for good with the first finale. When was that? Season 5?

    • skyblue101 says:

      Ooh yes, and a huge wodge of immediate ageism, well done!
      As Julie Walters said,
      “It’s getting better but men still earn more and there are more jobs for them. Ageism is a big thing. Parts for women disappear as you get older.”
      I’m looking forward to seeing a ‘couple of gal’s strut their stuff’ it’s good for them and it’s good for the rest of us as well to remind the world that women don’t just keel over and become irrelevant after 40. They CAN carry on (shocker!)

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      Far from it.

    • Nicolette says:

      No no no, you have it all wrong. As @ladyg said go to You Tube, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

    • Neah23 says:

      Blasphemy go wash our mouth out right now😩 And watch old episodes on YouTube because you know of what not you speak.

    • The Original Mia says:

      Wow…you really have no idea.

      • Nancy says:

        Wow you ladies sure do like these two. This has nothing to do with ageism. I just never found two foul mouth drunks amusing. I liked the daughter. But Mia, really, I have no idea. We all are entitled to our opinions.

      • skyblue 101 says:

        @ Nancy I’m sorry apparently I misunderstood your post. I thought a reference to the Golden Girls, a series about three retired, silver haired women was a direct reference to Jennifer and Joanna’s ages, I just can’t think how I managed to misread that.

      • The Original Mia says:

        No, you really don’t have any idea. You made it sound as if you hadn’t seen the show. If you did and didn’t like it, that’s fine. I was just shocked that you read the article and didn’t seem to know who they were or that this was a long-running British sitcom.

      • Nancy says:

        Who would have thunk it. I have to go out and buy band aids from all these rocks being thrown at me! I feel like a Jen fan on a Jolie thread. Enjoy your movie ladies.

      • FLORC says:

        Having no idea of this show or characters before I checked out the YouTube bits. And… The window might Have passed. Seems funny for nostalgic purposes, but passed that meh.

    • Nancy says:

      Apology accepted. Blanche and Dorothy they are not. Cheerio!

    • LA Juice says:

      Child- AbFab makes the Golden Girls look like Matlock ripping off Grinder… Child, and I mean this in the most AbFab way possible, you need some education on the genius that is Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone. Then you will see.

  2. Aussie girl says:

    Eddie: Patsy hasn’t eaten since 1974.
    Patsy: A crisp, darling. A crisp.

    Eddie: [in front of Saffy] Ooo, she’s so cold, sweetie! I’ll just bet she has her period in cubes.
    I used to loooove this show. I really hope that movie does it justice. It will either be super good or a flop.

    • Saywhatwhen says:

      Saffy to Eddie and Patsy: Where are you going?
      Eddie/Patsy: To New York
      Saffy: I didn’t think they let people with drug convictions in.
      Patsy: It’s not a conviction dear. It’s a firm belief.

      I love the Golden Girls morning, noon and night. And I love Ab. Fab forever! Why do the two have to be mutually exclusive? Funny women are funny women and we love them all!!

  3. minx says:

    Patsy and Edina forever.

  4. BearcatLawyer says:

    “One snap of my fingers and hemlines will go so high the world will be your gynecologist.” – my all-time favourite Patsy quote (talking about her “fashion director” job at British Vogue)

    • skyblue101 says:

      Eddy – “Couple of weeks I’ll be bendy like Madonna, darling. Then I’ll be able to kiss my own arse from both directions.”
      🙂

    • Dubois says:

      Eddy – “I mean, God! Here I am, your mother, poised for your first sexual experience and night after night, dry bloody sheets! I’m sorry, darling, but I don’t want a little moustached virgin for a daughter, so do something about it!”

  5. Lilacflowers says:

    Happy!

    • mom2two says:

      Me too! As happy as I am about Star Wars…this makes me happier.

    • Sixer says:

      Lilac! Other news for your faves! Season 2 of The Detectorists begins next week. Also, Stellan in River was very good in the first episode. As I thought, all the standard tropes, but really well done.

      (Sorry to threadjack a bit. Busy with work and have to catch the Lilac where and when I can!)

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Thanks, Sixer! I will check out Season 1 of The Detectorists and my beloved MacKenzie and will happily wait for Stellan in River now. PBS is airing Indian Summers and The Widower. Are either worth my time?

      • Sixer says:

        Don’t want to give away spoilers for River as it’ll ruin the first episode which, like I say, isn’t anything new but is so well done it’s surprising. DON’T read any reviews cos they all spoil it!

        Widower is great – principally for Reece Shearsmith. I loved Indian Summers and the production values are superlative, but it didn’t get as good reviews as I thought it would. But that sometimes happens with shows that are a bit hand-wringy over the legacy of empire. The liberals don’t think they go far enough and the conservatives resent them, so they fall between critic stools, you know? I liked it, anyway!

        Right. Back to ENDLESS work. I need a week off!

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Thanks! I watched the first episode of The Widowet and thought it might be interesting. We’re four episodes in to Indian Summers and I’m enjoying it. Will embargo all press on River

  6. Square Bologna says:

    Patsy on fash-mag cover photos: “It’s the same every month. A model, in makeup, with a vacant look on her face.” 😀

  7. Loopy says:

    These woman are legendary, dirty British humour at its finest.

    • Nicolette says:

      Yes! Gotta love it.

    • Original T.C. says:

      IKR? These ladies are HILARIOUS, LOL. I’m so excited, had no idea the movie was approved. Can’t wait!

      • Melanie says:

        I can’t wait! I’ve been waiting years for this. And I do hope Saffy gets sold off to a sheik! That Morocco episode is absolute gold, from start to finish.

  8. Lindy79 says:

    Patsy really had the best lines in this show.
    “if you want to talk bollocks and discover the meaning of life you’re better off downing a bottle of whiskey. At least that way you’re unconscious by the time you start to take yourself seriously”
    Loved it so hope they can do it justice, I have faith in Jennifer Saunders

  9. Bluebell says:

    Fantastic, love Joanna Lumley. She’s great in her travel programmes.

  10. Betti says:

    Squee – this and the new star wars trailer has made my crappy day so much better.

  11. Caz says:

    Thats a surprise, after so many years. It had better be very very good. I’m off to watch Pet Shop Boys Absolutely Fabulous “champers alright for you Pats?”

  12. Luca76 says:

    Love it! I’m there!

  13. Kate says:

    This show was brilliant. I hope the film will do it justice.

  14. Lindy79 says:

    Remember there was a pilot shot in the US, it was so bad it’s never even aired or seen the light of day….

  15. Ncboudicca says:

    I liked the episodes they put out before the London Olympics, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy the movie, too. Can’t wait to be assaulted by Eddy’s outfits on a big screen!

    • Cricket says:

      It’s Lacriox darling!

      Me too! Can’t wait! I remember way back in the day, Comedy Central would run AbFab marathons on Super Bowl Sunday. It was awesome!

  16. Emma - the JP Lover says:

    Yes! Yes! Yes! Ab/Fab forever! 🙂 🙂

  17. kibbles says:

    My favorite British comedy from the ’90s is Keeping Up Appearances. I know most of the cast is too old to do any sort of reunion or film, but I would have loved for that to have happened a decade ago. I watched a few episodes of Absolutely Fabulous but could never get into it. I’d be open to watching the movie though.

    • antipodean says:

      Actually, Kibbles, the characters have been resurrected by Katy and Bill, and are played out regularly for the edification of the British public. Of course their version is not a patch on the originals. Long live Hyacynth and Richard, and poor Elizabeth and long suffering Emmet. Patricia Rutledge is a national treasure, and has had a fascinating career, she did a wonderful play called Talking Heads, and it was a revelation, very creepy, twisty, and brilliant.

      • skyblue 101 says:

        Talking Heads was brilliant, Alan Bennett at his best. The one with Maggie Smith was my favourite when she played the little old lady stuck in a chair. The Julie Walters one just made me cry a little.

      • antipodean says:

        That’s right, it was Alan Bennett, thanks for that, I couldn’t quite remember who it was exactly. I can see his waspish little face now, they don’t make ’em like that any more!

      • Sass says:

        I am a devotee of British TV. You missed Vicar of Dibley, which is fabulous. Ab Fab, Hyacinth, ATGB, love all of them. There was one set in a retirement home “Closer to God”, which I also adored. Love also the Golden Girls reruns. I will be at the AbFab movie when it comes to US!

    • Cricket says:

      maybe there will be a spin off and Serge and Sheridan can have their own series. That would be classic!

      • antipodean says:

        But Sheridan, Darling, when are you going to get married? Could Daddy what dear? Send you some money, dear? Of course dear, I’ll get him to post the cheque now. Absolutely clueless that Sheridan obviously bats for the other team Hilarious.

  18. minxx says:

    My favorite line:
    “Someone’s taken the steering wheel!”

    Edina, drunk in France, getting into the car, which has the wheel on the opposite side.

    Later, when they have to rush to the airport and Bubble is struggling with her stuff:
    “Leave her, she’s too slow”

  19. Jonathan says:

    Wow, the Star Wars trailer made me cry but this news made me pee myself just a teensy bit.

    Ab Fab is the best.

  20. Spikey says:

    Uhhh! Be still my beating heart! First Star Wars and now AbFab!! *jumps on a couch* I’ve never thought, I’d say that, but I so understand Tom Cruise! Wuaaah!

  21. Jess says:

    Yay! I love Ab Fab so much!!

  22. Square Bologna says:

    Edina, proudly discussing her new diet/health plan: “I shall drink water.”

    Patsy: [blank look]

    Edina: “It’s a mixer, Pats. We have it with whiskey.”

  23. Betti says:

    A few of my personal favourites:

    Edina:’ In this body there is a thin person dying to get out.’

    Gran: ‘just the one dear!’

    —————————————–

    Eddy (to her daughter, Saffy): “Not one bloody boyfriend in the whole time that I’ve known you! I mean, you’re not that bloody ugly! What’s the matter with you? Huh? Have you read that Karma Sutra I gave you? No! That Dutch cap has only ever seen the light of day. I mean, God! Here I am, your mother, poised for your first sexual experience and night after night, dry bloody sheets! I’m sorry, darling, but I don’t want a little moustached virgin for a daughter, so do something about it!”

  24. Pandy says:

    Squeal!!!! Can’t wait – I loved Ab Fab!!!!

  25. BengalCat2000 says:

    I read that Kate Moss will make an appearance as well. Love this show!

  26. Goodnight says:

    Can’t wait, hope it’s utterly perfect!

  27. ariverruns@aol.com says:

    I have three seasons of AbFab on my Ipod and watch them at the gym while on the stationary bike.
    They are so hilarious. lol

  28. Melody says:

    YES!!! I also want there to be a running gag of them ignoring or abusing an over-eager Hiddleston in it, please! He would take it so well…

  29. meme says:

    YES YES YES Love Patsy and Eddie sweetie darling.

  30. antipodean says:

    Hip, hip, hooray. Jennifer Saunders would only do this if it was worth doing, and her writing standards are sublime, so I think this will be a triumph. I will be waiting with my Stolly, and Bolly at the ready.

    • Betti says:

      Yes and i often wondered if she would revisit if particularly after her cancer scare in 2009. Would love to see another TV series but i doubt they would again but you never know.

  31. Unmade_bed says:

    “…before everyone got so politically correct”???
    I thought you abhored all that isn’t PC? What site have I been reading, if not the PC brigade?
    I miss Ab Fab and hope Pats and Eddie do themselves and all of us proud. I, for one, need a good laugh

  32. Sarah01 says:

    They are the bees knees!

  33. Pants says:

    This news made my night last night, and is still making my day today. AbFab is a gift.

  34. Jaded says:

    A movie!!!! Absolutely fabulous! I still get out my Ab Fab DVDs from time to time when I need a hit of Patsy and Edie!

    Eddy: “Saffy, look at Mummie, look at me. Do I need surgery?”
    Saffy: “Yes, have your mouth sewn up.”

  35. anne_000 says:

    Patsy is my role model. It’s too bad they can’t bring back her sister because the actress is dead and they killed her off in the series, but I like watching Patsy’s familial background, though I hate her mother. I hope the writing is as good as the earlier seasons.

    They’d be drinking 10 bottles of Bolly, not wine, from Eddie’s refrigerator that resets the bottles like pins at a bowling alley.

  36. Tig says:

    Ah Patsy- who could ever forget the Botox party? I am glad Saffy’s GM will be back-she was the best.

    Up thread- I am starting to lose interest fast in Indian Summers. Just seems like it’s deteriorating fast into deep looks across rooms and the male viceroy to be is pretty one note. However, always great to see Julie Waters. So can anyone fill me in if its worth it to plug on?

    • BW says:

      On a related note, I’m losing interest in Home Fires, too. I was hoping it would be about what women did during WWII. Instead it’s about bitchy ladies, getting a boyfriend, and men who beat up their wives, every single episode. Last episode, they plowed up the cricket pitch right at the beginning of the episode for about 2 seconds, and the women didn’t do a single thing about growing food for the rest of the episode. I’m very disappointed.

    • skyblue 101 says:

      Disappointed in both and gave up very early on.

    • Dawn says:

      Gave up on Indian Summers after the first episode. No one interested me enough to come back. I think Home Fires is just getting setup. So I am staying with this one for awhile. The men have yet to leave in droves so right now it is just a threat of war. I hope it gets better!

  37. Tacos and TV says:

    Is it too early to toast to this with a glass of wine? Come on, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere… oh well, water will do! I am so happy. I love these ladies! Cheers, darlings!

  38. Marcel says:

    OMG YESS!

  39. ImFlying says:

    In that first pic, I was thinking the Duggar mom and Ivana Trump. That would be a seriously weird movie.

  40. Ange says:

    I didn’t realise June Whitfield was still going. Yay for this movie!

  41. AntiSocialButterfly says:

    This is so exciting!! Hubby recently got me the 20th Anniversary Specials disc from the BBC, and I can’t wait for the movie. I still have some of the VCR tapes left- lent some to a coworker back in the mid nineties and never got them back before I moved 🙁

    Pats! Eddy! Saffy! Bubble! Gran!