Rowan Atkinson to star in Johnny English 4 as filming begins

Rowan Atkinson is set to return as Johnny English for a fourth film.

As per Screendaily, Rowan Atkinson is set to reprise his role of Johnny English in the fourth instalment of the spy-comedy film series. The film will reportedly start filming in Malta and the UK this summer.

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Rowan Atkinson’s clumsy and secret Agent has starred in three movies so far: Johnny English in 2003, Johnny English Reborn in 2011, and most recently in 2018’s Johnny English Strikes Again.

Most details on the project are tightly under wraps, but Working Titles Films is set to produce for the fourth time.

Previously, Atkinson hinted that a fourth film in the franchise was unlikely to happen. While promoting the third film, Atkinson took part in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) and stated that he didn’t think there would be any more entries in the series. 

Atkinson wrote, “I doubt it but thank you very much for implying you’d like to see another one. But at the same time… never say never”.

The Johnny English film series is a parody and tribute to the spy genre, particularly the James Bond films, and also draws inspiration from Rowan Atkinson’s iconic Mr. Bean character.

Additionally, the character of Johnny English has roots in Atkinson’s portrayal of a clumsy spy in a series of Barclaycard advertisements aired in the United Kingdom during the 1990s.

Rowan Atkinson’s untitled Johnny English 4 movie does not have a release date.