A remake of the iconic sitcom Cheers ran for eleven seasons and 275 episodes, the NBC comedy is regarded as one of the most influential series in television history. It helped turn the large cast, led by Ted Danson as Sam Malone, into icons of the medium. It was a ratings favorite and an awards juggernaut, including 117 Primetime Emmy nominations, which has sometimes lent itself to the premise being adapted for different countries.

Deadline reports that a British remake of Cheers is in the works. The project hails from Big Talk Studios, which is behind the BBC-Prime Video mockumentary show The Outlaws The remake will be adapted by Simon Nye, a British writer known for the 1990s series Men Behaving Badly. The remake is not yet greenlit, but Nye will be the showrunner if it is. Big Talk is in the early stages of pitching an adaptation, with leading Big Talk executive Kenton Allen noting that the opportunity to adapt the series is a “huge honor” and acknowledging that it's a “huge challenge.”

The British Remake Might Be The Most High-Profile Cheers Adaptation

There Have Been Other Attempts

If it moves forward, the British adaptation won't be the first Cheers remake. Back in 2011, a Spanish adaptation debuted. It was set in an Irish pub, with Alberto San Juan playing a version of Sam Malone. In addition to using the iconic Cheers theme, recorded by Dani Martin, other Cheers characters such as Woody, Diane, and Norm also had their counterparts.

There has been a stage adaptation of Cheers, titled Cheers: Live on Stage, which debuted in 2016 in Boston.

Although an Irish version of Cheers was developed at one point, the project ultimately did not move forward. If the British version avoids that fate and actually gets an official pick-up, it will likely be the most high-profile project due to its potential to reach an international audience.

Our Take On A Cheers Remake

It's A Sign Of The Premise's Appeal

The most well-ed sitcoms tap into something everyone can relate to. Despite some very specific aspects to Friends, Seinfeld, and Cheers, both in of setting and characters, they're all ultimately universal. But whether that can then bridge to a successful adaptation remains to be seen. It may be that the familiarity and hardened warmth of the world created by Glen and Les Charles and James Burrows is difficult to capture but very easy to enjoy.

Source: Deadline