Magnolia Makes “Alan Partridge” a Hostage Ahead of NYFF Premiere

Apparently Michael Winterbottom doesn’t own the Steve Coogan trademark – his schtick and comedic genius happens to be a part of a brand that North American auds might be unfamiliar with. Going by the shorter, more introductory type of title (they nipped it down from the longer Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa) Magnolia have picked up the rights to helmer Declan Lowney’s Alan Partridge, which was announced as part of the 51st NYFF line-up and was released in the UK earlier this month. A 2014 release is being planned by the outfitter.

Gist: Written by Rob Gibbons, Neil Gibbons, Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci and Peter Baynham, Alan Partridge has had many ups and downs in his life. National television broadcaster. Responsible for killing a guest on live TV. Local radio broadcaster. A nervous breakdown in Dundee. His self-published book,’Bouncing Back’, subsequently remaindered and pulped. THE ALAN PARTRIDGE MOVIE portrays the events of the greatest low-to-high-ebb spectrum in his life to date – specifically how he tries to salvage his public career while negotiating a potentially violent turn of events at North Norfolk Digital Radio.

Worth Noting: The character that Coogan created for television dates almost two decades ago.

Do We Care?: With notable scribes Armando Iannucci and Peter Baynham on board the screenwriting team and a Coogan that certainly pulls from the same comic-timing as what we found in The Trip – we’re thinking that the British press/NYFF curating team aren’t simply fans, but are genuinely impressed by the quality found in this big screen adaptation.