All of the main cast are returning for the small-screen special, with Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn reprising their respective roles of Dave Lister (the last human being in the universe), Arnold Rimmer (a hologram of Lister’s long dead bunkmate), the Cat (the narcissistic descendant of Lister’s feline stowaway) and Kryten (a mechanoid with a mean penchant for a spring clean).
Series co-creator Doug Naylor is also back on board to write and direct the TV film. “I’m absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity of making more Red Dwarf,” he said in a recent interview. “Can’t wait to start shooting a format that I don’t think has ever been done before. Smoke me a kipper, we’re back and not just for breakfast.”
First aired in 1988, the sci-fi show quickly gained status as a cult classic and currently enjoys a commendable score of 8.4 on IMDb. After its cancellation in 1999, Naylor reportedly made several unsuccessful attempts at a film adaptation before Dave revived the series in 2009.
However, only one episode from the three newer series has since attained a higher rating than the show’s average, although most fans will agree that the quality has risen from that of 2009’s somewhat disappointing Back to Earth, the last Red Dwarf three-part special.
The feature length film will allow a longer, more cohesive story to be told, quite different from the show’s usual stand-alone episodes.
Whilst it is currently unclear whether the TV movie will mark the end of a journey spanning more than three decades (or three million years), fans can at least hope for an offering worthy of the show’s status as a staple gem of British comedy. The feature length film will allow a longer, more cohesive story to be told, quite different from the show’s usual stand-alone episodes. Even the cast seem optimistic, with Craig Charles recently remarking that the upcoming TV film ‘promises to be our most epic adventure yet.’
In celebration of the upcoming TV movie, Dave will also be airing three new hour-long documentaries featuring brand new behind the scenes footage, never before seen clips and outtakes, and original interviews with the current cast and crew. This retrospective miniseries is expected to air some time next year, just before the film itself.