Rowan Atkinson won't go back to Blackadder
Comedian/actor Rowan Atkinson has admitted he may go back to his beloved character Mr. Bean in the future but he will never revive Blackadder because "the only motivation would be money".
Rowan Atkinson will never revive Blackadder because "the only motivation would be money".
The 70-year-old actor starred in four series of the hit historical comedy between 1983 and 1989, and Atkinson has now insisted a revival is out of the question because even a hefty pay cheque would not be enough to lure him back because he doesn't see the "point" in a revival.
He told The Times newspaper: "[It would be] tricky [to bring it back]. And what’s the point? You’d just be desperately trying to reproduce the success of what you’d done decades ago. You’re on a hiding to nothing. The only motivation would be money. But I don’t think that would bring me into the fold."
After Blackadder came to an end, Atkinson went on to star in hit sitcom Mr. Bean for five years between 1990 and 1995 as well as spin-off Mr. Bean: The Animated Series and big screen movies Bean in 1997 and Mr. Bean's Holiday in 2007.
However, Atkinson hasn't ruled out the possibility of the beloved character making another comeback in the future.
He said: " I’m not saying never, but it’s certainly not in the realms of my thinking at the moment ... 95 per cent of people who say hello to me on the street refer to me as Mr Bean, and that’s fine."
Atkinson went on to insist he doesn't care about the opinions of his friends and family or critics when it comes to his work.
He explained to the publication: "I measure success in strict, objective terms. It’s viewing figures and box office numbers. I wish no disrespect to critics, pundits, commentators, influencers. But they are not who I am interested in.
"I remember reading an interview with a well-known director who was asked how he derives satisfaction from his work. He said: 'In the end it’s the opinions of friends, family and professional peers that I respect the most.'
"And I couldn’t agree less. I have no interest in those people. If friends and family like it, that’s of passing interest but not lasting interest. I’m interested in the guys out there I genuinely don’t meet ...
"It’s not ‘oh goody, I’ll make more money now’, or I hope it isn’t. It’s just that’s where the satisfaction is, from entertaining a wide audience. The bigger it is the better."
He also has little interest in taking on projects which aren't going to be commercial, adding: "I’m not someone who says: 'Oh I’ve always wanted to do some Kafka.'
"I find it quite hard to get excited about uncommercial stuff."
