Fox orders a pilot

A new Americanised remake of Absolutely Fabulous is on the cards, after the Fox network ordered a pilot episode.

Creator Jennifer Saunders will be an executive producer on the new US edition, which is being made by Sony Pictures and BBC Worldwide.

The 36 original episodes of Absolutely Fabulous have proved a cult hit in the US, having been broadcast on Comedy Central, PBS, BBC America and Oxygen.

Roseanne Barr previously proposed an American remake starring Carrie Fisher a decade ago, but it never got off the ground – amid rumours that US networks baulked at the hard-drinking, heavy-smoking exploits of Edina and Patsy.

Saturday Night Live writer Christine Zander is working on the new remake, trade magazine Variety reports. It will be overseen by Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz and the husband and wife behind Two And A Half Men, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum.

Published: 24 Jan 2009