Graham Linehan and US network NBC are teaming up for an American version of the British comedy The IT Crowd.
Variety has reported that Linehan will write and executive produce a “reimagining” of the original that will move the setup, about the creaking IT department of a large corporation, to the US.
Linehan confirmed the news on Twitter, responding to the report by posting: “Oh, yeah. Working on it. Don’t expect the same kind of show and EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY.”
This will be NBC’s third attempt to make the comedy work for an American audience. There was a pilot in 2007, filmed a year after the British original first aired, which saw Richard Ayoade reprise his role of Moss, alongside Joel McHale in place of Chris O’Dowd’s Roy.
Another attempted remake, in 2014, also failed to take off. NBC’s latest attempt will be the first with Linehan installed as a writer.
These are not the only attempts to transport the show outside of the UK. In 2008 a German adaptation of the show – titled The iTeam: The Boys at the Mouse – was poorly received and cancelled after two episodes.
The original programme ran for four series on Channel 4 – coming back for a finale special in 2013 – and starred Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, Chris Morris and Matt Berry.
