The cast of The Full Monty have reunited for a new original series of the same name, it has been announced.
York actor and star of the hit 1997 film Mark Addy will reprise his role as Dave in the new Disney+ series.
The Fully Monty, an original British comedy film, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim. For a time it was the highest grossing movie in Britain until it was outsold by Titanic.
The film follows a group of unemployed men in Sheffield during the 1990s as they decide to form a male striptease act in an attempt to make some money.
Disney+ has announced a new limited series based on the film and featuring the original cast members.
Alongside Mark, Robert Carlyle will return as Gaz, Lesley Sharp as Jean, Hugo Speer as Guy, Paul Barber as Horse, Steve Huison as Lomper, Wim Snape as Nathan and Tom Wilkinson as Gerald.
The new series will follow the original group of friends over eight episodes, as they navigate post-industrial Sheffield and the struggles faced by crumbling healthcare, education and employment systems.
In keeping with the big screen version, the series will explore the brighter, sillier and more humane way forward where communal effort triumphs over adversity.
The new series will also introduce a whole host of new cast members including children and grandchildren of the returning characters.
Filming has started
Writer and executive producer Simon Beaufoy said: “We’re chuffed to bits to get all the Monty Men back together again – now with a chaotic entourage of children, grandchildren, pets and assorted hangers-on – to see what life in Sheffield is like 25 years on.”
The filming of the new show commenced in Sheffield and Manchester on March 28.
[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]
The production is part of a commitment by Disney+ to create 60 local productions by 2024 through working with creators and producers to source, develop and produce original productions in Europe.
The Full Monty original series will be available on Disney+ globally, Star+ in Latin America and Hulu in the US.
The release date is yet to be confirmed.
Screen star
Mark Addy, 58, was born and bred in York. His father Ian worked as a glazier at York Minster, and Mark went to Joseph Rowntree School before going to RADA.
From 1987 onwards he became a familiar face on screen, in TV series including A Very Peculiar Practice, Band of Gold and The Thin Blue Line.
As well as The Full Monty, Mark reached global audiences in his role as Robert Baratheon in Game Of Thrones, Hercules in Atlantis and in films like The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Robin Hood and A Knight’s Tale.
In York, Mark was the patron of the York Culture Awards and last year unveiled the sculpture of Gerald the Minster Cat.