Life On Mars ‘is poised to return for a 3rd sequence’ as creators drop large trace the anti-woke hit shall be revived after ‘monetary setbacks’ pressured them to axe earlier plans
The time-travelling police drama Life On Mars is poised to return for a third series, its creator has revealed.
The beloved series, which starred John Simm as the out-of-time copper Sam Tyler and Phillip Glenister as the cantankerous DCI Gene Hunt, became a surprise hit when it hit screens 20 years ago.
While fans have been calling for the show to return for many years, they thought plans for a third series, titled Lazarus, had been dashed due to ‘financial hurdles.’
However, Ashley Pharoah, one of the show’s creators, has now hinted that plans for a new run of episodes are back in motion.
He said: ‘Something is stirring in the Life on Mars world. I’m sworn to secrecy but the Cortina isn’t ready for the scrapyard just yet.
‘It really puzzled us that no one wanted to make Lazarus – the fans certainly did. We had always planned to do three series, not two. I remember there was a bit of worry from the BBC.’
The time-travelling police drama Life On Marsis poised to return for a third series, its creator has revealed
However, according to The Sun, it seems that the show’s creators may have to turn to streaming to get a new run off the group, as the BBC firmly denied there are any plans for Life On Mars to return.
In a statement they said: ‘There are no plans for Life on Mars to return to the BBC.’
Daily Mail has contacted a representative for BBC for comment.
Life on Mars originally ran for two series, and was followed by the sequel show Ashes To Ashes, which was set in the 1980s.
While the original run saw John’s Tyler transported back to 1977, its follow-up focused on Alex Drake, who after being shot wakes up in 1981, and like her predecessor, she teams up with Hunt.
Hunt won an army of fans for his outrageous language and actions, but some of his behaviour would be considered shocking by modern viewers.
Star Keeley Hawes previously said: ‘Gene is so well loved because he’s gruff and difficult to please. He’s the opposite of a New Man. People really like that.
‘It’s such a breath of fresh air. Someone who exhibits those old- fashioned ways in this PC era is very attractive. What more could you want?’
Ashes To Ashes came to an end in 2010, with Ashley saying at the time: ‘Post-Ashes, we really felt we’ve done it, we’ve gone out and most people felt we hadn’t f****d up the ending. And so it was, OK, move on.’
The series, which starred John Simm as the out-of-time copper Sam Tyler and Phillip Glenister as the cantankerous DCI Gene Hunt, was a surprise hit when it hit screens 20 years ago
The show, which also sparked sequel series Ashes To Ashes (pictured) had been rumoured for a revival several years ago, but these had been dashed due to ‘financial hurdles’
Fans began calling for a revival during the Covid lockdown, with even Ashley’s co-writer Matthew Graham confirming they’d finally come up with a new concept that would see Tyler and Hunt reunite.
‘We would never make another Mars unless we really had something to say and could push the envelope all over again. Finally, we have something.’
Lazarus would continue the trend of being named after David Bowie hits, and would see Sam toiling in Greater Manchester Police’s Internal Affairs division in 2022.
However, after an investigation leads him to a care home, he is reunited with an ageing Gene Hunt, before both are transported back to 1977.
It was thought that Lazarus would have eventually taken the story into the 1990s, with Matthew saying: ‘We hadn’t initially planned to have the Nineties as part of it, but then it became apparent that seeing Nineties policing through television was too irresistible.
‘If Seventies policing was all about The Sweeney and the Eighties was all about The Professionals and police running around with submachine guns, the Nineties was the time of the gentleman detective, doing crosswords and knowing Latin.’
While they originally took their idea to BBC bosses, they were told the channel ‘didn’t want to relive past glories,’ and despite pitching it to Britbox, the costs were deemed too high.
In June 2023, Matthew shared the sad news that the revival wouldn’t be going ahead, writing on X: ‘Some sad news folks. After many months of planning, we will now not be making Lazarus.
‘I can’t go into details but the hurdles were financial not creative. Naturally all who were involved are sick as a jungle full of parrots. not least myself and @AJPharoah.
‘It was a cracking concept – pertinent to our times.
However, Ashley Pharoah, one of the show’s creators, has now hinted that plans for a new run of episodes are back in motion
‘It had a whole new round of things to say about the relationship between the public and the police. And it was bloody funny too. But that, as they say, is showbiz baby.
‘Forgive us if we don’t take questions on the decision or on what happens next for Gene, Sam and the gang. but we wanted to let those who were interested know so that you could instead raise a pint of tan ‘n’ bitter to the Guv.’
It remains to be seen why things have changed, though stars John and Phillip have openly expressed a desire to return.
However, Keeley Hawes, who played Alex Drake in Ashes To Ashes, has proven more reluctant, with Matthew previously saying: ‘Keeley was always aware that this was considered John and Phil’s show, and I suspect she thought she didn’t want to play second fiddle to the boys.’
